State govt welcomes NGOs’ help in devt effort for Muslims

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Dr Abdul Rahman (third left) presents the assistance to the children. On his right is Abibullah.

KUCHING: The state government welcomes any effort by associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) aimed at assisting Muslims across the state through the development of facilities and human capital.

According to Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, assistance that comes in the form of providing places of worship like suraus and mosques would help tremendously in human and religious development.

In this regard, he stressed that such effort must be complemented by the religious associations and NGOs.

“The state government is committed to this. We have seen the completion of many mosques across the state – all meant to accommodate the needs of Muslims in Sarawak,” said Dr Abdul Rahman, who is Pantai Damai assemblyman, at a Ramadan event in Masjid Al-Abyad, Matang Jaya here recently.

The ‘Majlis Inspirasi Ramadan’ was conducted by the Malaysian Islamic Foundation for Economic Development (Yapeim).

Adding on, Dr Abdul Rahman saw the contributions by Yapeim in areas of education and economy benefitting Muslims across the state.

“We look forward to seeing more programmes run by Yapeim, especially those related to education covering from the primary level up to institutions of higher learning,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yapeim chief executive officer Datuk Abibullah Samsudin said the foundation spent RM2.6 million for the ‘Inspirasi Ramadan’ programme, aimed at benefitting 22,320 recipients nationwide.

“We spent RM2 million last year for 17,371 recipients. We are looking into increasing the fund to RM3 million next year to accommodate more recipients,” he said.

Abibullah added that Yapeim had also set aside RM3.7 million for the ‘Inspirasi UPSR’ programme involving 80,691 Primary 6 pupils nationwide, and another RM3.7 million for the ‘Inspirasi SPM’ programme aimed at benefitting 78,888 Form 5 students all over the country.

A total of 1,000 orphans received Ramadan assistance from Yapeim at the event in Masjid Al-Abyad here, where state Islamic Affairs Department director Ismail Mohd Hanis and Yapeim Board of Trustees chairman Tan Sri Othman Mustapha were also present.