by AUFA MARDHIAH / pic by BERNAMA

LEMBAGA Tabung Haji (TH), in collaboration with Pertubuhan Dana Kita, has launched the Program Sinar Baru aimed to help the asnaf group who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs in the work of seamstress.

In line with the goal, the Sinar Baru TH-Dana Kita Sewing Management Workshop will be organised free of charge for 50 selected participants from the asnaf group.

Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (picture), Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), said that the Sinar Baru programme is a very good effort from TH with the intention to help provide basic skills to the asnaf, so that they can be independent and then become entrepreneurs utilising the knowledge and skills learned from the workshop.

“Since the surge of the pandemic at the end of 2019, we see many in the community, especially the B40 (bottom 40%) group, have lost their jobs so there is no source of income.

Their lives became more difficult and even some of the M40 (medium 40% group) were also affected, squeezed by a severe financial burden.

“True to its name, the Sinar Baru TH Program is definitely the best opportunity for all selected asnaf and a ray of hope for them to rise to improve their standard of living,” he said.

Mohamed Ameen Abdul Wahab, TH’s acting ED of operations, informed that a total of RM272,500 has been allocated under the Sinar Baru Program for the purchase of industrial sewing machines, sewing necessities, steam irons, food and drinks during the three-day basic workshop, as well as the management costs.

“TH hopes that the cooperation with Dana Kita will be able to produce more asnaf entrepreneurs in Malaysia. The sewing skills taught in the workshop as well as the opportunity to participate in the sewing project by Dana Kita is expected to be a source of livelihood and a new source of income for the asnaf involved.

“We will continue to implement zakat programmes like this every year and ensure that the target group gets benefits from all programmes conducted,” he added.

The sewing management workshop will be conducted for three days at Wisma Pertubuhan Dana Kita in Gombak and the progress of asnaf entrepreneurs will be monitored for a year. Also, the selection of asnaf participants will be screened by the Supreme Council Committee of Pertubuhan Dana Kita based on the data obtained from the Zakat Office, the school and the village community, as well as the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Headmaster Council.

In 2021, TH allocated more than RM19 million zakat money for the implementation of TH zakat programmes which benefitted more than 200,000 asnaf and target groups.

Commenting on the issue of freezing the bank accounts of alimony defaulters which was proposed by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry previously, Ahmad Marzuk said the issue is nothing new and has been discussed for a long time.

“The government is indeed committed to ensuring that there is no domestic abuse, be it wife or husband. The government sees from all angles on how to overcome all problems in order to achieve what is intended.

“If there is no choice, then legal action is needed to ensure that the problem is resolved. Consider it also as the government’s initiative in defending persecuted women and children,” he added.