Cash aid for needy folk

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LIFE has been hard for Masni Ahmad, 57, since her husband divorced her to marry another woman four years ago.

The mother of three teenagers, who hails from Kedah, takes cleaning jobs whenever she feels well enough.

Words of comfort: Masni (seated) being comforted by Nafisah after she was overcome by emotion and burst into tears when she received her donation.

All four of them rely on RM500 from Baitulmal each month to make ends meet as her eldest, who is 19, has not secured a job.

Masni was therefore grateful when she received a donation from Perkim (Muslim Welfare Organisation of Malaysia) Bangsar branch in Taman Pantai Indah, Pantai Dalam on Saturday.

The Majlis Penyampaian Infaq Ramadan is an annual event that has been held for more than 12 years now to give aid to 70 people, comprising single mothers, senior citizens, the disabled and new Muslim converts (Saudara Baru).

The event was attended by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin and his wife Datin Nafisah Raja Nong Chik, who is a Perkim member.

So touched by the generosity after receving the donation from Nafisah, Masni burst into tears and hugged her tightly.

“It is so hard for all of us; when I received the donation, I was just so overcome by grief and gratitude,” she said.

Nong Chik said functions of this nature were important to foster understanding of the religion among non-Muslims and those who would like to convert to Islam.

“My wife attended classes conducted by Perkim over 30 years ago and today she is more well-versed in religious matters than I am,” he said.

Perkim Bangsar branch chairman Naina Mohamed Khalid said they had made provisions for 70 deserving people and each received RM200.

“We are spending about RM14,000 on the donations to these people and the funds come from our circle of members and well-wishers,” he said.

In the past, the association used to donate dry goods but decided against it as many of the recipients found it difficult to transport the goods home.

Only 50 recipients from Taman Pantai Indah and Taman Pantai Permai were present at the event. The rest, comprising new converts, will be given their donations at a later date.

Apart from organising donations, fundraisers and educational classes for the young, the organisation also conducts religious classes in English to help converts who are proficient in the language to understand Islam better.