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| Over 300 children across Malaysia to receive
financial relief |
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| Kuala Lumpur, Monday, 30 June 2008
- The global response to children affected by HIV/AIDS does
not come close to matching the enormity of their rapidly expanding
plight. Recognising only a small number of children in Malaysia
made orphaned or vulnerable by AIDS receive public support,
Standard Chartered Bank has stepped up to provide aid to these
children. |
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| Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad
today pledged RM1.18 million to the Standard Chartered Paediatric
HIV/AIDS Programme to support children infected or affected
by HIV/AIDS in Malaysia. The programme was set up in collaboration
with Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF). |
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| Aimed at alleviating financial strains
of children affected by HIV/AIDS, the programme will support
330 children from families with financial challenges. The financial
relief will provide children the basic needs such as food, education
and medical treatment. |
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| Mr Julian Wynter, Managing Director and
Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad
said: |
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"We recognise the need to balance
growth with sustainability. In harnessing our core skills,
networks and resources we are able to help address significant
social and economical issues in markets in which we operate.
We have been actively engaged in the AIDS response for almost
ten years and have made tremendous investment in the community
through education, financial relief and employee volunteer
programmes.
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Our partnership with MAF reflects
our continued commitment in not only raising awareness of
the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malaysia, but supporting children
made orphaned or vulnerable by AIDS. In setting up the Standard
Chartered Paediatric HIV/AIDS Programme, we want to be a force
for good to the community."
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| Through the Standard Chartered Paediatric
HIV/AIDS programme, children affected and infected with HIV/AIDS
will each receive RM100 a month for the next three years starting
from July 2008. The funds contributed by the bank's trust foundation,
Standard Chartered Trust Fund (SCTF) will be disbursed to MAF,
the programme manager. |
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| The children identified by MAF are aged
between one and 13 years and living with relatives or guardians.
The beneficiaries have been have been selected based on recommendations
by doctors and MAF's partner organisations. Funds will be channelled
through to MAF, which will subsequently distribute the allowances
to the beneficiaries. MAF will conduct regular audits to monitor
the progress of the programme and the development of these children.
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| The sponsorship agreement between SCTF
and MAF was signed by Julian Wynter, who is also the SCTF Chairman
and. The signing was witnessed by trustees from both foundations.
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| At the announcement of the collaboration,
Professor Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Chairman of MAF said: |
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"Last year, a total of 243 children
were supported through the MAF Paediatric AIDS Fund through
generous donations from the public. This year, I hope with
Standard Chartered's contribution, many more lives will be
touched. It is also our hope that more corporate citizens
will look upon you as a role model and rally in our fight
to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Together, we can work towards
achieving our aim of creating an environment free from prejudice
and stigma."
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| The Malaysian AIDS Foundation estimates
that over 80,000 people in Malaysia are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS
and more than 1,000 children are infected with the virus, with
many of them left orphaned due to the disease claiming one or
both parents. It is believed that the figures are just the tip
of the iceberg as many cases remain unreported. |
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| Apart from the Standard Chartered Paediatric
HIV/AIDS Programme, the Bank supports two homes with women and
children who are either affected or infected by HIV/AIDS. |
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| Standard Chartered Bank is committed to
raising awareness on HIV and AIDS. Organisations interested
to be part of the Bank's Living with HIV education programme
can contact the Bank's Corporate Affairs department. |
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| For more information on our community investment,
visit www.standardchartered.com/sustainability.
|
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| For more information, please contact: |
| Sharon Mak, Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs
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| Sharon.SM.Mak@standardchartered.com |
| Phone : +603-2781 7257 |
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| Ng Say Fen, Executive, Corporate Affairs |
| Ng.Say-Fen@standardchartered.com |
| Phone : +603-2117 7962 |
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| Standard Chartered Trust Fund |
| Standard Chartered Trust Fund (SCTF) was
registered in 2005 under the Trustee Incorporation Act 1952
to manage and distribute funds raised through Standard Chartered
Bank Malaysia Berhad organised events and employee donations.
SCTF also receives an annual grant from the Bank. The objective
of the Trust Foundation is to make further contributions and
engagement with the local community. The SCTF is administered
by a Board of Trustees, comprising six members of whom three
are independent individuals active in community investment.
Chaired by the current Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered
Bank Malaysia Berhad, the SCTF Board oversees a Working Committee
which is responsible for the day to day management of the SCTF.
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| Standard Chartered - leading the way in Asia,
Africa and the Middle East |
| Standard Chartered PLC, listed on both
the London Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange,
ranks among the top 25 companies in the FTSE-100 by market capitalisation.
The London-headquartered group has operated for over 150 years
in some of the world's most dynamic markets, leading the way
in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its income and the number
of employees have more than doubled over the last five years
primarily as a result of organic growth and supplemented by
acquisitions. |
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| Standard Chartered aspires to be the best
international bank in its markets through leading by example
to be the right partner for its stakeholders. The group now
employs 73,000 people, representing 115 nationalities, in more
than 1,700 branches and outlets located in over 70 countries.
The bank derives more than 90 per cent of its operating income
and profits from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with balanced
income derived from both Wholesale and Consumer Banking. |
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| The group is committed to building a sustainable
business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding
high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility,
environmental protection and employee diversity. For more information,
please visit: www.standardchartered.com |
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| Standard Chartered in Malaysia |
| Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad,
a member of the Standard Chartered Group was established in
Malaysia in 1875 and locally incorporated on 1 July 1994. As
Malaysia's first bank, Standard Chartered leads the way through
product innovation, consistent and strong growth performance
and sustainability initiatives. It provides a comprehensive
range of financial products and services including retail, Islamic
and wholesale banking for individuals, small and medium-sized
enterprises, corporate and institutions through its network
of 37 branches across Malaysia. |
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| In 2001, Standard Chartered established
one of two of its global shared service centres in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia to provide IT support and processing services to the
Bank's operations in 15 countries - the first bank in Malaysia
to do so. It now houses the biggest software development company
in the country, International Software Centre Malaysia (ISCM).
The other global shared service centre is located in Chennai,
India. |
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| Apart from its shared service centres,
the Group has also established a wholly owned subsidiary company,
Price Solutions Sdn. Bhd. to promote and market Standard Chartered's
financial products in Malaysia. |
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| Standard Chartered employs more than 5,000
employees in its Malaysian operations. |
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