Indonesian Junior Golfer Inspires CIMB To Engage In Charity

Kuala Lumpur, 30 October 2012 - Twenty-three top junior golfers from the ASEAN region were honoured at the CIMB Junior Golf Development Programme player recognition ceremony last week.

Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, group chief executive of CIMB Group, presented certificates of achievement to the top juniors in this year’s CIMB Junior Golf Development Programme.

The juniors were honoured for their numerous successes in local, regional and international tournaments.

Among the recipients were Thailand’s Puwit Anupansuebsai, who won the World Masters of Junior Golf Tournament 2012 in the Boys 11-12 years category; Benyapa Niphatsophon, also of Thailand, winner of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship 2012 in the girls’ 15-17 age category; and Indonesia’s Jordan Surya Irawan, the youngest participant at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2012. All three were successful at the Enjoy Jakarta World Junior Golf Championship 2012 (EJWJGC), held last June at Pantai Indah Kapuk course, as well.

Ten Malaysian juniors were also among the recipients of the certificates of achievement, including Sarfina Seretharan (pic), Loy Hee Ying, Natasha Andrea Oon, Albright Chong, Ervin Chang and Paul San.

Raja Noorma Othman, the chief executive officer of CIMB Foundation, said: “When we assumed the title sponsorship of the CIMB Classic in 2010, we launched the CIMB Junior Golf Development Programme to inspire a generation of juniors to pursue their dreams of playing professional golf at the highest level.

“Judging from the quality of achievements that has been accomplished by these junior golfers today, I firmly believe that we are moving rapidly towards seeing these juniors becoming top professionals,” she said.

CIMB Foundation also donated RM50,000 to the IJN Foundation and it will go towards providing cardiac treatment for underprivileged children.

The idea of funding medical treatment for children was inspired by an essay penned by Indonesia’s Paquita Gadin, who had written about her vision of providing free medical treatment to needy children when she reaches the top echelons of professional golf.