The wakalah money given to those in the asnaf category was allocated to each state with the amount ranging from RM50,000 to RM1.3m

by NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK/ pic credit: TNB

NATIONAL utility company Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) widened its wakalah alms distribution to all states within Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah throughout the recent fasting month of Ramadhan, to aid those financially challenged and affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

The recipients of the wakalah consisted of those in the asnaf category, essentially those who are poor, disabled, elderly, single mothers, those who are suffering from chronic illnesses, natives and orphans regardless of ethnicity and religion.

Those who benefitted from the wakalah also included other poor citizens within the city area, namely the Federal Territory and Selangor such as Ampang, Putrajaya, Lembah Pantai, Batu and Puchong.

All the company’s employees from 13 states and 15 stations in every part of the Peninsular and Sabah all contributed to the wakalah, which totalled up to RM4.36 million.

The wakalah money, namely the returns made from any of the company’s zakat payments, were allocated to each state with the amount ranging from RM50,000 to RM1.3 million.

The approach had made the sharing fairer and even in order to provide assistance and lessen the burdens of the recipients in their preparation for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which fell on May 24.

A recipient from Gerik, Perak, Mazlinda Abdul Manan said this was the third year she received aid from TNB.

“In the previous years, TNB provided aid in the form of necessities such as groceries, whereas this year was in the form of cash. Through this contribution, I can get any daily necessities I need,” she said.

From Pulau Pinang, Masjid Perai bilal Mohd Pirdaus Mohamad said he and other members of the mosque were not terribly affected by the Movement Control Order (MCO).

“However, with the contributions from TNB, I can purchase my daily necessities with the cash provided,” he said.

Meanwhile, a village head from Mukim Teloi Kiri, Kedah, Abdul Latiff Ismail said in the first year, TNB carried out a solar project in Bukit Selambau. The utility company had also provided direct aid to the masjid and surau for community activities.

“This year, the aid was given in the form of cash to 250 individuals.

“These individuals were villagers from Kampung Bukit Selambau who had been affected by the MCO, including night and morning market entrepreneurs who could not go out to carry out their businesses, hence cutting their sources of income,” he said.

He added that the villagers were extremely grateful for the contribution provided by the company.

“It is a good thing that there are projects by TNB which are benefitting many people from this area,” he said.

Head of Kampung Labohan Dagang, Banting, Selangor, Mohd Baderon Sukiman @ Abdul Patah said he was extremely grateful to TNB for the aid which was provided during the Covid-19 outbreak and prior to the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations for asnaf individuals and the disabled in the village.

“The villagers, especially the youth, were impacted by the virus outbreak because their work, mostly within the Kuala Lumpur International Airport area in Sepang, had been severely affected.

“The cash aid which was provided came at the right time to help with the struggles and I hope TNB will provide us with more assistance in the coming years,” he said.

TNB chief corporate officer Datuk Roslan Ab Rahman said the distribution was made to be comprehensive for each village and housing, orphanage, welfare houses, as well as remote and rural areas in each state.

“The contributions are delivered personally by our staff including members of the company’s internal association, as they are all genuinely concerned.

“The feedback that we received from recipients is positive, especially from those who have been struggling due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and living in the city as their source of income has been impacted, but have to cope with high cost of living,” he said.

The aid was received by over 21,000 individuals in villages and houses including those in Padang Besar, Perlis; Bukit Selambau, Kedah; Balik Pulau, Penang; Kayan, Perak; Banting, Selangor; Lukut, Negri Sembilan; Masjid Tanah, Melaka; Plentong, Johor; Bentong, Pahang; Batu Rakit, Terengganu; Jeli, Kelantan and Keningau, Sabah.