MAIWP CONTRIBUTES RM1.7 MLN TO HELP NEW CONVERTS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) today presented a donation of RM1.7 million to help the ‘mualaf’ (new converts) in the Federal Territories.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar presented the donation at the 'Rahmah Ramadan MAIWP Bersama Saudara Kita' programme to four non-governmental organisations that actively preach and help the mualaf.

The donation was presented to the National Islamic Welfare Organisation which received RM800,000, the Hidayah Centre Foundation (RM350,000), the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (RM200,000) and the Malaysian Indian Muslim Youth Movement (RM200,000).

MAIWP also handed out RM300 to each of the 500 mualaf who attended the programme, with a total allocation of RM150,000.

Regarding the donation, Mohd Na'im said it would not be possible without the encouraging contributions from zakat payers in the Federal Territories to the MAIWP Zakat Collection Centre.

Mohd Na'im also presented three categories of awards to appreciate the achievements of mualaf in the fields of da'wah, entrepreneurship and education.

The awards were presented to Ahmad Daniel Alhafiz Aduka who won the Preaching category, Sumayyah Teng Yoke Chin (Entrepreneurship) and Afrina Catherine Edwin Chan (Education).

The award winners took home a cash prize of RM2,000 along with a certificate of appreciation.

Meanwhile, Mohd Na'im said he hoped more zakat payers would come forward to fulfill their responsibilities so that MAIWP could achieve the zakat collection target of RM1 billion this year.

"InsyaAllah, with the efforts made by MAIWP, when this zakat donation is delivered to those who deserve it, InsyaAllah, it will increase the confidence of zakat payers and the collection target will be achieved," he said.

-- BERNAMA