Maxis, Astro Bring Festive Joy To Melaka's Kampung Chetti For Deepavali

MELAKA, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Maxis and Astro celebrated Deepavali with over 200 members of the Chetti community in Melaka, featuring various cultural and artistic activities.

Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd's Head of Southern Region, Mazlan Mokhtar, said the initiative is part of the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme and is an annual effort aimed at sharing the joy of the Festival of Lights with the Indian community.

“This programme is special, and we are delighted to celebrate Deepavali with the residents of Kampung Chetti through various activities, along with some contributions to help them enjoy the festival happily.

“Kampung Chetti and its people are unique as they form part of the nation's heritage due to their diversity, comprising various ethnic groups with unique culture, food, attire, and the use of the Malay language as their means of communication,” he told Bernama.

He said this at the 'Deepavali Festive Charity: Together for a Better Tomorrow' programme, co-organised by Maxis and Astro and officiated by Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong.

During the event, Maxis and Astro also donated 100 food bags containing essential items for Chetti community members from the B40 low-income group.

In addition, Maxis also provided three laptops and a ping pong table for the Kampung Chetti reading room.

“We are not only here to do business but also to give back to the community,” Mazlan said.

Meanwhile, Khoo said that the CSR programme carried out by Maxis and Astro in conjunction with Deepavali is a commendable initiative that more corporations should emulate.

“This programme helps alleviate the burden of aid recipients in preparing for Deepavali, while also bringing joy and light to their celebration,” he said.

Melaka Chetti Temple and Community Secretary T. Sithambaram Pillay said the contribution of food bags meant a lot, especially to the less fortunate members of the community celebrating the Festival of Lights.

He said the donation was a meaningful gesture of appreciation for the community and helped ease their financial strain.

-- BERNAMA