KUCHING: Sports Toto lottery operator, STM Lottery Sdn Bhd, wrapped up its annual Harvest and Gawai donation drive this week, visiting underprivileged communities across East Malaysia in a bid to spread festive goodwill ahead of the celebrations.
Held between May 11 and 13, the Sports Toto Harvest & Gawai Donation Drive 2026 was conducted simultaneously in Sabah and Sarawak, benefitting seven charity homes and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Altogether, 185 individuals comprising both children and adults received aid through the initiative.
A total of RM40,550 was disbursed under the company’s ‘Helping Hands’ programme. Each beneficiary organisation received RM3,500 in cash alongside RM1,500 worth of shopping vouchers to help cover daily operational costs and the purchase of essential goods. Individual recipients were also given a RM30 festive ang pow as a gesture of goodwill.
STM Lottery staff volunteers made personal visits to each charity home and centre to hand over the contributions and distribute the ang pows – an approach the company says is central to its community engagement philosophy.
“Festive seasons are a time for togetherness, and initiatives like this allow us to share that joyful spirit with communities who may otherwise celebrate more modestly,” said STM Lottery Communications and Sustainability General Manager, Giam Say Khoon.
He also stressed the importance of sustained, meaningful engagement beyond mere financial contributions.
“Through our ‘Helping Hands’ programme, we remain committed to supporting communities in a way that is thoughtful and consistent. It is not just about contributing resources, but about being present, listening, and fostering a sense of care that goes beyond the festive period,” he said.
The beneficiaries in Sabah comprised Bukit Harapan Home and Bakti Harapan Home (both in Kota Kinabalu), as well as the Sabah Society for the Deaf’s branches in Sandakan and Lahad Datu.
In Sarawak, the drive reached the Sarawak Society for the Blind (Kuching Branch), the Sibu Association for Children with Special Needs, and the Miri Methodist Children’s Home.
The initiative is part of STM Lottery’s broader ‘Helping Hands’ programme, which channels corporate social responsibility efforts towards community outreach during major cultural festivities throughout the year.
