Yayasan Petronas to distribute festive food aid, hygiene kits to needy families

KUCHING: Yayasan Petronas is distributing food aid and hygiene kits to 5,400 underprivileged beneficiaries in all states through its ‘Sentuhan Kasih’ festive programme, in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Gawai and Kaamatan celebrations.

Together with Social Welfare Department representatives, Petronas volunteers will distribute food essentials including rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, eggs, flour, condensed milk, sardines, cream crackers, glutinous rice, face masks and hygiene kits to selected families across Malaysia.

“Yayasan Petronas will also be distributing two boxes of festive cookies specially made and delivered by 11 Programme Mekar (Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat) participants to recipients in the Northern and East Coast regions,” said its statement.

It added that seven registered home-based businesses from the B40 communities in Sabah and Sarawak will be delivering their cookies to recipients in both states.

Yayasan Petronas chief executive officer Nelly Francis Shariah said the foundation remains committed in supporting the underprivileged community as the country continues to address Covid-19 challenges.

“The festive cookies are to bring joy not only to beneficiaries but also to Programme Mekar participants to boost their income during the festive season,” she said.

Programme Mekar provides entrepreneurship skill training for B40 communities to address poverty at the grassroots.

The past two years has seen 1,045 individuals trained in baking, sewing, carpentry and woodworking, business and marketing through Northern Corridor Implementation Authority in Kedah, MyKasih in Kuala Nerus and East Coast Economic Region Development Council in the East Coast states.

“They are pleased to be involved with the programme by baking, packaging and delivering the cookies.”