SHARING THE JOY: Najib (third right) and Rosmah sharing a light moment with staff of various women NGOs during a Bubur Lambuk cooking programme. — Bernama photo
PEKAN: Peace and prosperity enjoyed in the country should be maintained to enable the people to carry out their daily tasks and worship without any hindrance, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Urging the people to be grateful for the blessings, the prime minister said: “In some countries, the people have to observe the fasting month and celebrate Hari Raya amid war and conflict … our country is much better.”
He said peace and prosperity that enabled Muslims to fast and pay the tithes during Ramadan was a testimony that the country was blessed.
“The blessings protect our country. These blessings are showered by God to Malaysia.
“So, we must defend peace and prosperity that we’ve enjoyed,” he said at the handing over of tithes amounting to RM1.5 million from Bank Rakyat Bhd and Lembaga Tabung Haji for 5,904 deserving recipients from the Pekan parliamentary constituency here yesterday.
Also present was Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said paying tithes was a religious duty that could enhance relationships and love among Muslims where the rich helped the poor.
“Zakat was handed down by God, it has a wisdom … among them, through worship and religious obligation, it cleanses one’s soul, selfishness, greed and being too engrossed with worldly life. It is a noble attribute, becoming generous and caring to other Muslims,” he said.
Tithe recipient Suwaidah Mamat, 63, said she would use her tithe money to buy a pair of baju Melayu and a pair of shoes for her disabled son, Mohd Saiful Hafizi Ismail, 19.
Another recipient, Mariah Mat Nor, 84, from Tanjung Medang here, said she would use the RM250 tithe payment to prepare for Aidilfitri. — Bernama