SME Bank Channels Aid To Flood Victims, Benefiting Over 4,500 In Kedah, Kelantan

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (SME Bank) has launched its second flood relief mission, further extending its assistance to individuals and families impacted by the recent flooding.

This follows the bank’s recent announcement to provide immediate help to its customers through tailored financing solutions and relief measures.

“As one of the country’s leading development financial institutions (DFI) mandated in the value creation of society, we are aware of the challenges faced by victims of the recent floods. Thus, we heed the government’s call for all government agencies and corporations to play a direct role in helping the rakyat navigate this difficult situation,” said SME Bank acting group president/chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim in a statement today.

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“Being agile and swift to address this nationwide crisis, we continue to extend the necessary assistance beyond financing by executing our flood-relief corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative in Kedah and Kelantan, benefiting over 4,500 individuals due to severe flood situations in these two states,” he added.

Under this initiative, SME Bank contributed food baskets and essential items as well as cash assistance in Kedah and Kelantan.

He also said that SME Bank is pleased to collaborate with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) Kedah branch, contributing food baskets and essential items to 400 families in the Kubang Pasu district of Kedah, benefiting over 3,500 individuals in total.

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“Meanwhile, in Kelantan we are providing our support through cash contributions to two primary schools - Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Teluk Jering and SK Bendang Pa’Yong - to support post-flood recovery, benefitting 1,000 students.

“Additionally, our employees played a direct role in preparing and distributing food baskets in Kedah, while in Kelantan, they assisted with the restoration and cleaning efforts at the affected schools,” he added.

The contribution presentation in Kedah was attended by SME Bank chairman Datuk Muslim Hussain and Mohammad Hardee, along with Kubang Pasu Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB) officer Muhammad Mahazi Ibrahim.

In Kelantan, SME Bank was represented by chief business officer Zabidi Abdullah; chief operating officer Zarina Nor Ismail, and group chief risk officer Mohammad Azam Ahmad, together with SK Teluk Jering headmaster Zamri Muhammad and SK Bendang Pa’Yong headmaster Roslan Mohamed.

Since 2022, SME Bank has initiated nearly 20 CSR programmes with a total value of over RM3 million, focusing on economic empowerment, community development, and environmental preservation. These include the flood relief aid for students in Penampang, Sabah, and the Santuni MADANI - One Leader One Village programme, among others.

To further assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) impacted by disasters, SME Bank also facilitates Bank Negara Malaysia’s disaster relief facility (DRF), offering financing of up to RM700,000 for SMEs and RM150,000 for micro-enterprises at a rate of 3.5 per cent per annum for up to seven years.

-- BERNAMA