Hope Of Colours From Dulux For Ractar

By Ali Imran Mohd Noordin KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- The recent ‘Dulux Colours of Hope’ (DCOH) contest ended with cheers for the residents of Rumah Amal Cahaya Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (Ractar), as the welfare home will be repainted at no cost. Winner of the competition's grand prize, Mohd Azmi Mad Sah, was given the opportunity to name a charitable organisation of his choice for a free repainting by Dulux. And he picked Ractar! The three-month contest took place in July last year where shoppers needing to purchase any of Dulux’s 5-litre eco-friendly paints and answer five simple questions. Eleven lucky winners were chosen for the final round to determine the winner of the grand prize. DCOH is part of AkzoNobel’s effort to instil caring values in reaching out to the underprivleged in lign with the objective of 'Adding Colours to People’s Lives’. The company is the world’s largest paint and coating company. It took over ICI Paints in 2008. NGO Ractar is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) giving shelter to more than 50 girls age between five and 20 years old. These girls are either orphans or from very poor families. Apart from basic necessities such as food, clothing and education, the home also provides vocational training in the form of tailoring for its residents. The father of two daughters, Azmi had several as he understands the importance of having a conducive environment for growing-up girls. “I chose Ractar because I feel it is important to equip these girls with education and skills to enable them to become independent. I hope I have made a difference for children in this home, with assistance from Dulux,” he said. Besides being given the opportunity to nominate a charitable organisation for paint makeover, Azmi drives home a Lexus CT200h hybrid car as the competition's grand prize winner. Azmi said he has been painting his house on his own since he first bought the house five years ago. He learnt various painting techniques from Malaysia’s popular décor figure Eric Leong, who is also Dulux brand Ambassador through television programmes. DELIGHTED Ractar deputy president Datin Norfiah Abdul Shukor said she is delighted with this unexpected gift and thanked Azmi for choosing the home. “The home's last paintwork was done 11 years ago. The new paint makeover undoubtedly will add colours to the life of the residents,” she said. A walk around Ractar shows that it is high time for the home to have a new paintwork. The walls and panels are in need of a new coat of paint. A GIVEBACK The managing director of ICI Paints Malaysia Berhad, Goh Cheok Weng, said the competition was held last year following its success in 2010. “This is also a way for us to contribute back to the society,” he said. The paint makeover will see Ractar rejuvenated with environmental-friendly paint, thus providing the residents with a more conducive environment. It also allows the home to channel its resources to other useful cause. “Looking at the success of the programme, we will certainly continue to organise DCOH every year because it gives sustainable impact on ourur customers,” said Goh. SELECTING THE BEST The 11 finalists battled for the grand prize by showing their skills in a colour-scheming challenge for one exterior and four interior rooms of a residential project. Three criteria are used to determine the winner - concept, colour scheming and creativity. One of the judges, Eric Leong, said Azmi’s work was the most outstanding and ‘got the things correct’. “For a residential project, the colour scheme must be liveable and provide the right energy using the right colour combination. For example, energetic colour is appropriate to be used in living hall as it drives activity while relaxing colour is suitable for bedroom. Azmi did a good job by getting all of them correct,” said Eric. -- BERNAMA