AmanahRaya Trustees Extends Aid To Rural Communities Through Komuniti Prihatin

KEPALA BATAS, June 22 (Bernama) -- Understanding the current economic challenges, AmanahRaya Trustees Berhad (ART), a subsidiary of Amanah Raya Berhad, extended assistance to 200 selected families in Kampung Rantau Panjang, Penaga, here yesterday through its Komuniti Prihatin programme.

The food basket assistance forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment to supporting the well-being of the local community and helping those in need cope with the rising cost of living.

One of the recipients, 79-year-old Saudah Hussin, expressed her gratitude when met at the programme, describing the assistance as meaningful in helping meet her family’s daily needs.

Saudah, who lives with her son, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren, said the family has relied heavily on her son since her husband died from complications related to fluid in the lungs more than three years ago.

“My son takes care of most matters at home, including looking after me, as I can only move around with the help of a wheelchair and a walking stick,” said Saudah, who has diabetes.

Meanwhile, former imam of Masjid Kampung Rantau Panjang, Othman Ramli, 63, said ART’s initiative reflected its concern for those facing economic pressures and rising living costs.

“There are four people in my household, and our monthly expenses usually reach RM500. In addition, I no longer have a fixed income and rely mainly on my monthly savings and a small income from leasing out padi fields, so this contribution will at least help ease some of the family’s expenses,” he said.

ART chief executive officer Zainudin Suhaimi said the programme, carried out in collaboration with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Northern Region, reflected the company’s hands-on approach in understanding the realities of community life.

He said the initiative would also strengthen ties with the local community while showcasing a more targeted and high-impact implementation of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.

Zainudin said ART had allocated more than RM40,000 for the programme, which included food baskets for 200 recipients and contributions to the EPF i-Saraan accounts of 200 students to encourage early savings habits and long-term financial planning.

In addition, he said ART had contributed two sets of canopies complete with tables and chairs to Masjid Jamek Kampung Rantau Panjang for use during community programmes and local social activities.

The programme was further enlivened by various community activities, including the preparation of traditional delicacies such as kuih cara and kuih serabai, the making of dodol, a communal feast, as well as a river trail activity along Sungai Muda aimed at raising awareness of the importance of preserving the river ecosystem.

“These activities not only strengthen familial bonds within the community, but also provide ART volunteers with the opportunity to observe the daily lives of villagers and gain a better understanding of the realities faced by rural communities, particularly those in Kampung Rantau Panjang,” he said.

Zainudin said the programme was being held for the first time and would be continued in the future as part of efforts to reach more rural communities across the country.

Also present at the programme, which drew more than 500 villagers, were Amanah Raya Berhad acting group managing director Jack Yap Ngee Heong, EPF Seberang Jaya branch manager Mohd Majdy Said and chairman of the Masjid Jamek Kampung Rantau Panjang committee Zainal Abidin Omar.

-- BERNAMA