Widow With Five Children Receives MAIWP Aid

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) has proposed assistance for living expenses, rent and schooling for a widow who is now raising five children aged between six and 15 following the death of her husband early this month.

The family was among three asnaf families visited by MAIWP at the Laksamana People’s Housing Project (PPR) on Jalan Peel under the “Asnaf Visitation Programme with the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) – Series 3 (2026/1448H)” today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan said the on-the-ground approach was important in enabling MAIWP to understand the actual circumstances of aid recipients and ensure that assistance provided met their needs.

He said MAIWP not only provided monthly financial assistance but also implemented asnaf development programmes to help beneficiaries improve their standard of living and become self-reliant.

“Insya-Allah, these are among the measures we are implementing to assist the community and the people as effectively as possible,” he told reporters after visiting the families concerned.

Regarding the widow’s family, Zulkifli said MAIWP had previously provided General Schooling Aid, while assistance for monthly living expenses, rent and schooling was now being proposed to help the family cope following the loss of their breadwinner.

The programme also included a visit to a family comprising a married couple and eight school-going children. The father works as a Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) driver, while the wife is a full-time homemaker.

The family receives monthly General Medical Assistance covering diapers and diabetic supplies, as well as assistance for a wheelchair and schooling needs.

The third family visited comprised a single mother who has been divorced since 2018 and is raising three school-going children. She receives monthly cost-of-living assistance and basic necessities, in addition to support for schooling expenses and supplies.

As of Aug 12, 2026, MAIWP had distributed RM699.57 million in zakat funds through 38 assistance schemes, in addition to providing indirect assistance through asnaf development programmes and educational institutions owned by MAIWP.

-- BERNAMA