Hoops, Health, and Community Spirit: Sun Life Malaysia Brings New Life to Kuala Ampang Basketball Court

Kuala Lumpur, 27 May 2024 - Sun Life Malaysia, a life insurance and family takaful provider, in collaboration with Beyond Sport, a global organisation for social change through sports, unveiled the fresh new look of Kuala Ampang Basketball Court in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, with the goal of fostering active lives and bringing more joys to local youths. This court project is part of the regional CAD $1 Million Hoops+Health programme, by Sun Life and Beyond Sport, to encourage physical activity and promote healthier lifestyles through basketball. 

The programme will be implemented in Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Vietnam throughout 2024. Local communities will benefit from revitalised basketball courts, workshops for coaches and capacity building programmes for young basketball players. 

The newly refurbished Kuala Ampang Basketball Court was officially unveiled by Raymond Lew, CEO and President/Country Head of Sun Life Malaysia, Jason Chan, President of the Kuala Ampang Residents Association, and representatives from Sun Life Asia and Beyond Sport. Present at the event were Sun Life Malaysia executives and employees, Kuala Ampang residents and local basketball coaches and players. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Raymond Lew, CEO and President/Country Head of Sun Life Malaysia, shared, “This initiative not only aligns to our business purpose of promoting healthier lives but also represents our commitment to fostering youth wellness through sports. Through this endeavour, we want to create an accessible and fun environment for local youths to maintain an active lifestyle, and ultimately improve overall well-being. Besides, basketball is a great social sport, we believe this court will not only promote healthier lifestyles but also foster community building.” 

(L-R) Mr Raymond Lew, CEO and President/Country Head, Sun Life Malaysia; Mr Jason Chan, President of Kuala Ampang Residents Association, Mr Adam Burgess, Programme Director, Beyond Sport

According to Sun Life Malaysia, the initiative also responds to the 2022 Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance report, jointly released by Sun Life Malaysia, Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The report gave Malaysian children a D-grade rating for overall 1 physical activity, reflecting a dire need to boost active youth lifestyles and improve this national health rating. 

To enhance accessibility and safety for the local community members, the court has undergone a comprehensive renovation. The revitalisation included resurfacing, repair, repainting and enhancements to facility assets such as courtside benches, cooling fans, road safety barriers and lighting. This beloved free-to-use hub is now a safer and more enjoyable space for the Kuala Ampang residents. 

Additionally, regional education partner ASA Foundation will conduct a coach education workshop in June this year to help local youth coaches improve their skills and knowledge of using basketball to promote physical health and wellbeing among young people. Sun Life Malaysia will also be sponsoring a six-week free basketball session for youths under 18 at the court. These sessions will be tailored to address barriers to sports participation, particularly targeting low-income communities. 

(L-R) Ms Irina Lim, Chief Operating Officer of Sun Life Malaysia; Ms Flora Couralet, Senior Partnerships and Marketing Planning Manager, Sun Life Asia; Mr Raymond Lew, CEO and President/Country Head, Sun Life Malaysia; Mr Jason Chan, President of Kuala Ampang Residents Association; Mr Adam Burgess, Programme Director, Beyond Sport

"We are excited to open the new Hoops+Health basketball court at Ampang in partnership with Sun Life Malaysia, marking another milestone in our work to use sport to create positive social change and support healthy youth," said Adam Burgess, Director of Programmes at Beyond Sport. 

"This refurbished court will hopefully become a hub for people of all ages, providing the community with a safer and more accessible place to play." 

Jason Chan, President of the Residents Association of Kuala Ampang, shared, “With the refurbishment, the court now looks bright, vibrant, and more importantly, it serves as a safe space to attract more young talent in the Kuala Ampang neighbourhood and surrounding areas to engage in sports. We would like to thank Sun Life for their contribution towards this community project.”