TNB lightens burden of less fortunate affected by COVID-19 pandemic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 -- Sympathetic to the plight of those in need and badly hit following loss of income due to the Movement Control Order to curb COVID-19 transmission, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) stepped in by distributing the company’s wakalah aid to every state in the Peninsula and Sabah in the month of Ramadan.

TNB in a statement said RM4.3mil worth of zakat assistance was donated to over 21,000 people in hundreds of villages and homes in the interiors of Padang Besar (Perlis), Bukit Selambau (Kedah), Balik Pulau (Penang), Kayan (Perak), Banting (Selangor), Lukut (Negeri Sembilan), Masjid Tanah (Melaka), Plentong (Johor), Bentong (Pahang), Batu Rakit (Terengganu), Jeli (Kelantan) and Keningau (Sabah).

"The feedback we received from recipients were very encouraging, especially from those living in the urban areas as their income was drastically affected," said TNB chief corporate officer Datuk Wira Roslan Ab Rahman.

The urban poor living in the Federal Territories and Selangor such as in Ampang, Putrajaya, Lembah Pantai, Batu and Puchong areas also benefited from the zakat  assistance.

Fariha Muda, who is principal of the Orphans Welfare Association (Perkaya) Hostel in Marang, one of the beneficiaries of the aid said, the funds had eased Perkaya’s burden in providing meals to its 250 residents.

“The aid was a godsend as we were in deep financial difficulty. We are grateful to TNB but it would also be good if the company could help upgrade the electricity system and replace whatever is necessary as this hostel had been in operation for 35 years,” she said.

Meanwhile, chief of a village in Teloi Kiri, a subdistrict in Kedah, Abdul Latiff Ismail said the financial aid had helped the people of Kampung Bukit Selambau, including night and morning market traders who  lost their source of income after having to adhere to the Movement Control Order (MCO) ruling.

“On behalf of the villagers I would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to TNB. Thanks to TNB, many found relief during their dark despair," he said.

Another recipient, muezzin of Taman Air Biru Mosque in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Hamezid Junid, said apart from the food assistance, the cash aid too came in handy as he was able to buy essential items including diapers for his children.

Meanwhile Bertam district officer Sopuddin Yusoff commended TNB’s invaluable contribution which had helped alleviate the burden of residents in Kuala Bertis and Bertam Barat subdistricts, most of whom were self-employed or earning meager income as odd job and estate workers.

“Over the years TNB had built strong rapport with the communities here,” he said.

The wakalah aid allocated for each state was between RM50,000 and RM1.3 million, depending on TNB’s business tithe payments and the amount returned by the respective state religious councils for  distribution to deserving recipients.

-- BERNAMA