The country’s largest utility provider, in collaboration with DBKL and YWP, has handed 38 residential units to the hardcore poor families

by NURUL SUHAIDI / pic courtesy of TNB

TENAGA Nasional Berhad (TNB), the country’s largest utility provider, has helped improve another 30 families as they received new homes under the Baiti Jannati Project (PBJ) this year.

In a mission to help the country alleviate the hardcore poor tenants of Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), TNB collaborated with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP) who handed an additional eight hardcore poor families with their own residential units.

With the Covid-19 pandemic hitting many households, particularly the lower-income group, this initiative is another milestone to best aid and soothe the worries, especially of the struggling new recipients.

The PBJ has been part of TNB’s corporate social responsibility programme since 2007.

Through this initiative, TNB has provided an allocation of RM1.5 million in zakat money to benefit the hardcore poor Muslim families and a YWP contribution of RM400,000 to eight non-Muslim hardcore poor tenants in PPR/PA DBKL for them to own their own homes.

TNB chairman Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin said TNB has high hopes that the recipients of homeownership and their families will stand the test and be able to live a more comfortable life.

“TNB is always concerned about the local community, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic that has greatly affected the people,” he said during the handover ceremony last Wednesday.

The PBJ involves repair work, new construction or financing the purchase of homes for the poor and selected asnafs, as well as single mothers, the elderly and the urban and rural poor (B40).

To source funds for this project is TNB’s annual business zakat money returned by the State Islamic Religious Council.

“For the non-Muslims, TNB provides a similar programme known as PMR or the People Friendly Programme. It also repairs, builds new or finances the purchase of house,” he added.

Recipient criteria are also almost the same between the two programmes which include people with disabilities, single mothers and senior citizens, among others.

Since the introduction of PMR, a total of 214 non-Muslim families from across the country have enjoyed its benefits at a cost of more than RM7.34 million.

This allows underprivileged people in the Federal Territory to have their own comfortable homes, which TNB believes is the basis of a family’s harmony.

“Apart from that, the initiative also aims to improve the quality of life in the communities through the provision of comfortable housing for the B40 (bottom 40%) group in the Federal Territory.

“Indirectly, this programme is one of the alternatives to tackle urban poverty in the Federal Territory, especially in Kuala Lumpur,” Hasan added.

One of the recipients was G Kaniapan from Kampung Muhibbah who works as a security guard at a clinic and lived with his four children in a rented house.

“When I received a call from DBKL two weeks ago regarding this aid, I thought it was a joke but a few days later, TNB called about the same thing.

“Later on, someone else called to say they were going to fix my broken door, replace what needed replacement, and make my home better,” he said, still in disbelief.

He expressed his gratitude to TNB for choosing him among many other individuals.

“Many people have been affected by the pandemic and are in need, and I am one of the lucky ones to have been chosen for this assistance.

“I am truly grateful and so happy,” Kaniapan said.

According to TNB, Kiniapan is the recipient for Projek Mesra Rakyat TNB.

Since its introduction in 2007, a total of 879 houses have been refurbished, built or funded throughout the peninsula at a cost of more than RM39.22 million, while a total of 249 housing units have been handed over to the eligible hardcore poor in PPR/PA DBKL.

Single mother, Siti Mohanim Rahim described the experience of being selected as a recipient as humbling and she was grateful for being chosen this year.

“I pray to God every day for a better life. I was shocked when I received the call from DBKL, stating that I was among the chosen recipients as I did not apply for anything prior to that,” she said.

Siti Mohanim makes a living by teaching Islamic studies from house to house. She told The Malaysian Reserve that the new house has helped to reduce her financial concerns.

“I can now focus on my children’s education without having to worry about a place to stay and the monthly payment,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim, during the ceremony, said it is his ministry’s mission to eradicate urban poverty.

“With the consistent collaboration from corporate services such as this yearly initiative by TNB, it is possible for us to combat urban poverty, while giving the recipients the opportunity to rise and better their lives,” he said, adding that urban poverty is a serious indicator which reflects a nation’s socioeconomic status.

“Therefore, in this regard, we must help the needy and work hand in hand to eradicate urban poverty.

Shahidan (left) together with TNB officials posing with 2 wheelchair bound recipients at the ceremony

Rohaya Mat, a wheelchair-bound recipient, described her new house as a pleasant surprise. At the age of 57 and with vision problems as well, she is physically incapable to make her own living and is fully dependent on her children, as well as monetary aids from agencies.

“My finances come from my own saving and the monthly zakat allocation from Baitulmal.

“The house serves as a huge relief for me in terms of accommodation given my vulnerable condition,” she said.

Not forgetting the education aspect, TNB has also further expanded its aid for long-term growth through education.

Over 18,500 students have benefitted from the Tenaga Nasional Foundation which has distributed more than RM1.2 billion in aid either in the forms of scholarships, bursaries and variable loans, since 1993.

Its recipients include over 8,000 students from B40 families who received the MyBrighter Scholarship Future since 2018, for three levels of studies.

Also present at the ceremony were Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, Federal Territories Ministry’s secretary general Datuk Seri Rosida Jaafar and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che’ Ngah.