MAIWP, Yayasan Didik Negara Channel RM2.41 Million In Tithe For Special, Underprivileged Students

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), in collaboration with Yayasan Didik Negara (YDN), today launched the Supplementary Food Programme (PMT) and Sensory Integration Room for the well-being of “asnaf” students and students with special needs.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said the implementation of the initiatives, utilising zakat (tithe) funds totalling RM2.41 million, was in line with the MADANI Government's approach in ensuring the students do not drop out of the national education system.

Of the total amount, RM2.34 million was allocated for the PMT programme at 15 secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

"This PMT targets students from low-income families so that they do not go to school hungry,” he said, adding RM70,000 was used for the construction of a Sensory Integration Room, complete with learning stimulation equipment.

He said this when launching the PMT programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Kampung Baharu here, today

Also present were Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and MAIWP chairman Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Kabeer.

According to Mohd Na’im, the PMT programme by MAIWP is different from the Supplementary Food Plan (RMT) of the Education Ministry, but they share the same goal of providing healthy nutrition to improve students’ performance.

“This is part of our efforts to expand the benefits of zakat in a focused and inclusive manner. We want underprivileged students and special children to enjoy equal and quality educational opportunities,” he said.

Commenting further, Mohd Na’im said MAIWP remains committed to supporting the education sector with RM103.49 million channelled last year through the Education Cluster, involving 38 assistance schemes for underprivileged groups.

He said the funds were for various forms of educational support, including assistance for school uniforms and equipment, scholarships, tuition fees, assistance to higher education institutions (IPT) and laptops,  as well as scholarships for excellent students and Quran memorisation.

“This ceremony is proof of how zakat can be utilised with full integrity and strategy to ensure the educational well-being of underprivileged and special children continues to be protected,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohd Na’im also expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Education for the largest zakat contribution in the government sector, with collections increasing by 4.8 per cent to RM9.7 million this year, compared to RM9.2 million in 2023.

Of that amount, he said, RM1.2 million was channelled to YDN through the wakalah zakat system to implement educational programmes.

“The combination of zakat resources and the ministry’s support allows programmes like these to be implemented comprehensively, providing direct benefits to students in need,” he said

-- BERNAMA