A Ramadan effort to help the poor

By Koi Kye Lee

KUALA LUMPUR: A special fund that enables the public to team up with the government to help the poor was launched yesterday.

Tabung Maybank Sejahtera, set up by Maybank in partnership with the New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad, is to help boost Khazanah Nasional Berhad's Yayasan Sejahtera initiative to provide homes to poor families and assist them in earning a stable income.

It is also in the spirit of giving during Ramadan which starts next week, with Maybank kicking off the campaign by giving RM50,000.

Maybank president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar invited all Malaysians to come together and contribute.

"The contributions will go towards a series of long-term sustainable programmes for the hardcore poor in rural and urban communities."

He said the funds would be used to help vulnerable communities nationwide, as well as the disabled, single parents, the aged and orphans.

"Also, through the participation of organisations like the NSTP, it will give the public a sense of confidence that the funds would reach Yayasan Sejahtera for its programme."

Tabung Maybank Sejahtera was jointly launched by Wahid, Khazanah Nasional Berhad managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar and NSTP chief executive officer Datuk Anthony Bujang at Menara Maybank.

"The Sejahtera programme was developed together with the local communities with the intention of providing access to sustainable livelihood for the unfortunate few.

"It is also to offer a long- term solution to alleviate poverty and with the contributions, the programme is moving a step closer to achieving its objective," Azman said.

Present at the launch was NSTP group managing editor Zainul Arifin Mohammed Isa and Yayasan Sejahtera director Shahnaz Al-Sadat.

Contributions to Tabung Maybank Sejahtera can be made anytime during the campaign period which ends on Sept 20 and it can be made payable to Maybank account number 5-64016-12169-5. - NST.