YAPIEM Allocates RM13.5 Mln To Improve Housing For Asnaf Families
The funds, channelled through the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), have supported the construction and repair of 293 homes for asnaf (those eligible to receive zakat), as part of a national initiative to uplift living conditions for vulnerable groups.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said the projects include 167 home repairs and 126 new builds, with 199 projects completed and 94 currently in progress.
'This initiative is made possible through generous public contributions to the YAPIEM Trust Fund, which are channelled directly to those in need,' he said at the Sinar Lestari and Sinar Kasih Housing Programme handover ceremony in Kampung Merkang here today.
The housing programme is implemented in collaboration with the Kelantan Federal Development Office (PPPNK) and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) under the Prime Minister's Department. YAPIEM, established in 1976, is one of 14 agencies under the Religious Affairs portfolio.
At the event, four recipients under the eKasih Kelantan programme received newly built homes, each valued at RM80,000, totalling RM320,000.
Among them was Nor Liza Hassan, 51, who had waited 14 years for a home. She now provides full-time care for her husband, Mohd Ridzuan Nawi, 52, who has been bedridden since 2011 following a fall.
'This is truly a meaningful blessing. I've been applying for housing aid for over a decade,' she said.
Nor Liza also supports their two children, aged 17 and 18, one of whom is still in school while the other is studying at Kelantan Matriculation College in Kok Lanas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Kenderong Forest Reserve pioneers helipad and tube wells for firefighting
GERIK: The Kenderong Permanent Forest Reserve has become the first location in Peninsular Malaysia to feature a helipad and tube wells for improved forest fire management. Mohamad Farhan Sukiman, assistant director of the Perak Forestry Department, said the project provides an alternative water source beyond river supplies for firefighting. The RM400,000 project was built on a 0.2-hectare former logging site between August and September last year. 'The Department of Minerals and Geoscience provided technical expertise for the tube wells, while our department managed site operations,' said Mohamad Farhan. He added that the nearby helipad reduces aerial operation times from 10 to three minutes for water collection. This initiative showcases inter-agency collaboration in disaster management and environmental protection. The project involved cooperation between federal and state agencies under a 2023–2025 firefighting infrastructure programme. Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah of Perak's Fire and Rescue Department highlighted how tube wells solve water access challenges in remote areas. Previously, crews relied on distant fire hydrants or six-hour uphill treks to reach blazes. Helicopters now transport personnel and equipment using the new helipad, significantly improving response times. The site's existing water sources, including lakes and mines, complement the new infrastructure for aerial firefighting. – Bernama
Rakyat Post
6 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
Uncle Kentang Spends RM30K Paying Stranger's Rent For Five Years, Now Needs Help
Subscribe to our FREE Activist Kuan Chee Heng, known as 'Uncle Kentang', has been paying rent for a stranger with a mental illness for five years. He has spent RM30,000 so far, but says he's getting too old to continue and needs someone to take over. The woman was kicked out by her landlord five years ago after her family abandoned her. She can't work because of her mental condition and has no other support. 'If we don't pay her rent, she'll have to sleep on the streets,' Uncle Kentang wrote on Facebook. He found her a place and has been paying RM400 monthly rent ever since. Woman Can't Work or Self-Care, Relatives Abandoned Her When Facebook users suggested the woman should work, Uncle Kentang explained her mental condition makes employment impossible. Her relatives exist, but no longer help her. Now he's worried about how much longer he can afford the payments. Uncle Kentang helps many homeless people, arranging stays at old folks' homes for those who can care for themselves. This woman doesn't qualify because she can't manage on her own. He posted on Facebook seeking someone to continue the rent payments after five years of support. Without his help, the woman would be homeless with no job, no family support, and a mental illness. READ MORE : READ MORE : READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
A landmark celebration of faith and community
Strong foundation: Congregants marking the 130th anniversary of St Mark's Church in Butterworth. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star BUTTERWORTH: For university student Joel Cephasraj Harris, St Mark's Church is more than a place of worship – it is part of his family's story. The 20-year-old said the church has been central to three generations, from his grandfather to his father and now himself. 'Practically my whole family worshipped here, from my grandfather to my generation,' he said during the church's 130th anniversary celebration yesterday. Joel, who has volunteered there for several years, described the church as a melting pot of English, Bahasa Malaysia and Tamil speakers. 'It goes beyond religion – it's about shaping people into better individuals and strengthening the community,' he said. Engineer S. Prabakaran brought his wife and two children from Seberang Jaya for the occasion. 'It's a proud day for us. The church has evolved into more than just a religious institution – it's where the community comes together,' said the 44-year-old. Prabakaran said he took advantage of the weekend holiday to bring his family to join the anniversary celebration. 'It's not every day you get to witness a 130-year celebration. I wanted my children to see and appreciate the church's history and the role it plays in our lives,' he said, adding that he also met up with his friends there. His wife, K. Kavitha, 40, said it is heartening to see people of all ages sharing stories and celebrating a place that has stood the test of time. Even non-members joined in the celebration such as Butterworth resident Eduard Lim, 25, who came to support friends and neighbours. 'I've always admired how the church opens its doors to everyone, regardless of background. It's part of what makes this community special,' he said. Lim added that the event is also a chance to appreciate the church's history, noting that such heritage buildings are rare and should be preserved for future generations. Yesterday's celebration drew hundreds of congregants and community members who came together to mark the anniversary with prayers, hymns and cultural performances. The event also offered a variety of community services, including free dental check-ups provided by the Health Ministry, medical screenings by Polyclinic Bagan, blood pressure and glucose tests, eye examinations and a blood donation drive by Hospital Baling. Children were treated to games and activities, adding a festive atmosphere to the occasion. Anglican Churches' Bishop of the Diocese of West Malaysia Rev Canon Dr D. Steven Abbarow led the service. The church also launched a fundraising drive for RM180,000 to buy a new van for its children's ministry, replacing a 20-year-old vehicle. Vicar Rev Anthony Jude said the van is essential for transporting Sunday school students. 'Our existing van is becoming too costly to maintain,' he said. The church also set a target of raising between RM30,000 and RM40,000 yesterday. Present during the anniversary celebration were Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Bagan Dalam assemblyman K. Kumaran, Bagan Jermal assemblyman Chee Yeeh Keen and senator Dr Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam. Founded in 1893 by Rev Hubert C. Henham, the Church of St Mark the Evangelist began as a wooden chapel seating 70 and was completed in 1894 on a government-granted land along Jalan Bagan Luar. It was consecrated in January 1895. In 1929, the church moved to a larger site to serve a growing congregation, and the brick building consecrated that year gave Jalan St Mark its name. Today, the church stands in a Butterworth enclave known as a 'street of harmony', near Hindu and Buddhist temples and a Gurdwara, reflecting the town's interfaith heritage. St Mark's remains under the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia, holding services in English and Tamil.
