KOTA KINABALU: The 14 students bound for Egypt, whose faces had gone viral on WhatsApp recently, are being funded by the state government, confirmed Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.
“I would like to clarify that the students in the picture are all funded by us. They are now going through a course at the National Civics Bureau, which is required to further their studies.
“More than 30 will be sent after the Ramadan month, including those in the viral pictures. It looks as though the state government and zakat centre are neglecting them, this is not right and they are among those funded through Pusat Zakat Negeri Sabah.
“I hope the people will understand that we are actually trying to send them this year after Hari Raya and their tickets have already been prepared,” he clarified when met by the media.
Arifin also advised those encountering similar instances to refer to Pusat Zakat Negeri Sabah and the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) first.
“I was informed of this news yesterday and I immediately referred it to Pusat Zakat. It is true, they are among more than 30 of our children,” Arifin said, adding the students will be going for religious and medical studies at Al-Azhar University in Egypt.
The assistant minister said this after a donation presentation ceremony at Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu in Likas here yesterday.
A total of 210 needy people from Likas were listed to receive the Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu donations and Raya contributions.
Some 150 able-bodied individuals turned up during the ceremony while the remainder who were unable to attend will receive it at their homes in the following days.
The mosque also extended donations to another 100 who candidly turned up at the ceremony yesterday.