Thomas Tan
In line with their role as a leading zakat institution, the Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) or Selangor Tithe Board or, continues to assist the asnaf (eligible tithe recipients) and B40 communities who had been badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The residents of the People’s Housing Project (PPR) Kota Damansara benefited from the distribution of 770 food baskets as part of LZS recent efforts to provide assistance to affected communities.
The recipients of the food basket received the aid from Lembaga Zakat Selangor chief executive officer Saipolyazan M. Yusop.
Each basket contained RM100 worth of food supplies such as rice, cooking oil, flour, sardine, sugar and other dry food items.
The recipients of the food baskets were identified with the help of NGOs, the Royal Malaysia Police, amil kariah assistants, mosques in Selangor and the white flag movement.
Saipolyazan said the food assistance was one of 19 initiatives under the Zakat Selangor Peduli programme announced in July this year, which involved an allocation of RM69.3 million.
“Thus far, we have provided 26,350 food baskets to communities affected by the pandemic, on top of 14,758 food baskets that are readily contributed to asnaf families registered with LZS on a monthly basis,” he said.
He said the Zakat Selangor Peduli initiatives benefit all communities affected by Covid-19 pandemic, including the Asnaf community, with some forced to go on leave, take unpaid leave or pay cut and those who were laid off.
“I am a single mother to a person with disabilities. Despite being disabled, my son is independent enough to take care of me, but he recently lost his job as his employers were affected by the Covid-19 situation. For now, he does minor odd jobs with his friend,” said Maimunah who received monthly financial assistance from LZS.
Another recipient, Rashdi Tak Arifin, 80, said, “Since the enhanced movement control order, I have avoided going outside. Usually, my daughter who lives in another block would deliver food to me, but she recently contracted Covid-19 and was forced to quarantine at home. Alhamdulillah, the food assistance that I received today has eased my burdens and will provide sustenance for a month.”.
In addition to food assistance, Saipolyazan said Zakat Selangor Peduli initiatives also cover the education needs of the community with an allocation of 7,000 tablets worth RM6 million.
The education aid is being distributed in phases to students sitting for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) dan Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations next year. Beneficiaries will also receive nine months worth of internet data for online learning.
Saipolyazan said, “As part of the Zakat Selangor Peduli initiative, LZS has also allocated RM1 million of amil funds to support the needs of frontliners who are battling against the COVID-19 pandemic.”
This includes RM800,000 of the amil funds that were channelled to 12 hospitals across Selangor for the purchase of medical equipment as part of an effort to ensure all Covid-19 needs are addressed.
Besides this, Saipolyazan said LZS has also provided RM60,000 worth of food packs to patients and frontliners stationed at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC) and the Malawati Stadium Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC) in Shah Alam.
In total, 20,280 packets of snacks, 9,600 bottles of water and 9,600 cartons of drinks were distributed to the PKRC and CAC.
Apart from these, LZS has provided 20 wheelchairs each for the convenience of the elderly and disabled at mega vaccination centres (PPV) at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Puncak Alam and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Civic Hall.
This is part of LZS efforts to help the government expedite the vaccination process in order to achieve the nation’s goal of overcoming the pandemic through herd immunity.
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