RM15M AID

Yayasan Tabung Haji and Umno team up to bring cheer to poor, disabled

news@nst.com.my

YAYASAN Tabung Haji and Umno will distribute RM15 million worth of zakat and financial aid to poor and needy groups as part of their Ziarah Kasih programme, held in conjunction with Ramadan.

Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said Yayasan Tabung Haji and Umno would target underprivileged groups, including single mothers, low-income earners, senior citizens and the disabled.

He said the programme, which would be carried out in more than 60 parliamentary constituencies, started several days ago in Kuala Langat, followed by Kuala Selangor, Gombak and Shah Alam yesterday.

To date, RM1.2 million worth of aid was given to 6,500 recipients.

In the Shah Alam parliamentary constituency, Azeez said RM300,000 had been allocated by the foundation and Umno, benefiting 1,500 recipients.

Azeez, along with Shah Alam Umno chief Datuk Azhari Shaari, gave away RM200 in contribution to each recipient at the Raja Tun Uda Mosque in Section 16.

“We want to reach out to more recipients and that is why the foundation teamed up with Umno through its membership and registration bureau to identity more people who are in need.

“We are also working with the Welfare Department, which has a list of names of those that need financial aid, and we will also look through the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) list.

“These are given to recipients regardless of their political ideologies. We want to help as many people as we can even those in the states we don’t hold power. This should not be politicised and we welcome it if the opposition wants to join us in this good deed.”

Single mother Ainizah Nor Zakaria, 49, who is unable to work as she needs to keep a close watch on her 9-year-old son who has congenital hydrocephalus, was one of the recipients of the contributions.

Ainizah said the contributions would help care for Muhammad Raif Hakimi Mohd Hata, who is bedridden.

“I need to keep a close watch on Raif so it is impossible for me to get a job to support my family. I’m relying on my daughter financially, apart from receiving monthly contributions from Lembaga Zakat Selangor to pay for my rented house and to buy basic necessities.

“I’m glad to receive this. This will ease our financial burden.”