DJ Dave: Media members can join Khairat YKAT

KUALA LUMPUR: The artistes’ welfare funeral programme set up by Yayasan Kebajikan Artis Tanahair (YKAT) will also be open to members of the media, says its chairman Datuk Irwan Shah Abdullah (pic).

“Previously, only singers, actors, actresses and musicians could join. Now we want to include the media.

“They will include journalists, photographers and cameramen,” he said yesterday.

Irwan, who is better known as DJ Dave, said the Khairat YKAT programme, which was relaunched last October, aimed to lighten the burden of artistes’ next-of-kin when it came to funeral expenses.

With as low as RM100 per year, contribu- tors will receive a host of benefits upon signing up for membership.

He said the programme was open to those aged from 18 to 69 years.

“There are different packages offered to Muslims and non-Muslims,” he said.

Dave, 71, shared the main reason on why he set up YKAT.

“The death of a fellow singer prompted me to set up the foundation.

“I was at his house after he died, and his family members were preparing for his funeral.

“His children said they did not have money for the funeral.

“I felt really sad as he was a prominent artiste,” the veteran singer said.

After the funeral, Dave said he decided to set up a foundation to take care of the welfare of artistes.

“Some of my friends joined me and helped to set up the foundation. We received assistance from the government too. We have helped many artistes over the last few years,” he said.

The foundation, whose trustees include illustrious veterans such as Datuk M. Nasir, Datuk A. Rahman Hassan, Datuk Nancie Foo and Datuk Yusof Haslam, caters to the welfare of all artistes in the country, regardless of race or religion.

For details, call 1-800-886-887. PETALING JAYA: Consumers will pay more for prayer paraphernalia during the Chinese New Year festive celebration following a shortage of paper and raw materials.

Prayer Goods Traders' Association of Malaysia honorary president Lim Hoot Kong said the price increase, which started since June last year, was due to tighter control on imported waste paper in China.

“China manufacturers were having problems sourcing for raw materials, such as waste paper for production following stricter enforcement of environmental laws in the country since last year.

“Although the situation has improved over the months, local manufacturers here are still having problems getting sufficient paper supplies from China,” he told The Star, adding that prices for both imported and local paper paraphernalia have gone up by 10%.

Lim’s younger brother, Hood Hong (pic), who manages their 60-year-old family business Soon Poh Sdn Bhd with Lim supplying various prayer items to businesses in Johor, Melaka, Penang, Perak, Kedah and Singapore, said the price increase was inevitable, as the costs of raw materials such as waste paper and colour, including wages have gone up between 15% to 20% in China.

“Imported products from China, which take up 70% of our product variety, are more popular among consumers, as they have better quality, designs and variety.

“Locally-made ones, despite being less appealing visually, have their following too as their price is lower,” he said.

Datuk Lee Chee Hoh, managing director of Weng Fatt Industry (M) Sdn Bhd, specialising in making various paper products for prayers for over 50 years, echoed the 10% price increase in paper prayer items.

“Since last year, China began taking a more proactive approach in tackling pollution problems, as well as regulating environmental laws in the country.

“As factories are being scrutinised and shut down for failing to meet the new requirements. It has caused a great impact on China’s pulp and paper industry.

“That has led to a drastic price hike of up to 30% in paper paraphernalia here in June last year,” he said.

Lee also said that the reintroduced Sales and Service Tax (SST) on prayer items such as joss papers and joss sticks was also another reason that contributed to the price increase.

“Our association is discussing with the Finance Ministry to return to status quo (to when) the goods and services tax (GST) was implemented, which is for prayer items to be exempted from SST.