KUCHING: Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak (TBS), in collaboration with Yayasan Kepimpinan Al-Bait (YKA), continued its efforts to assist underprivileged Muslim families through the ‘Back to School’ programme and YKABarber outreach for asnaf children here.
Datuk Abang Mohd Shibli Abang Mohd Nailie, General Manager of Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak (TBS), said the programme focused on making school preparation more accessible and encouraging children to return to school with confidence.
“This programme is actually the closing chapter of our Back to School initiative for the past year. We started in Lawas, Limbang, Miri, Mukah, Bintulu, and today we are in Kuching,” he said at the event, held at the Majma Mall, Sarawak Islamic Complex here today.
He said that in Kuching alone, more than 120 asnaf children benefitted from free haircut services, in addition to receiving school supplies such as tumblers and other essentials.
“We provide free haircuts for children from asnaf and underprivileged families. Today in Kuching, more than 120 children will receive this service,” he said.
Abg Mohd Shibli said the decision to provide practical items, such as tumblers rather than school uniforms, was based on current needs and practicality.
“We did not provide uniforms because sizing can be difficult. So, giving items like tumblers and school necessities is a more practical solution, and it also teaches children to save by bringing essentials from home,” he said.
He said the main objective of the programme was to spark the children’s interest in returning to school and viewing education positively.
“What is most important is to increase their motivation to go back to school. We want them to see school not as a burden, but as the first step towards success,” he said.
He highlighted the collaboration with Yayasan Kepimpinan Al-Bait as a unique strength of the programme, noting that 33 trained barbers from the foundation provided free haircut services.
“Through this collaboration, 33 trained barbers have volunteered to provide free haircut services. After gaining skills, they give back to the community, and that is what we want to see,” he said.
Additionally, Abg Mohd Shibli also shared that public trust in TBS has continued to grow, with the organisation recording zakat and contribution collections of RM211 million in 2025.
“Society has begun to trust and contribute more. From that amount, more than RM150 million has been channelled back as assistance, and we believe this will have a positive impact on asnaf and affected communities,” he said.
Furthermore, he said a total of 2,126 children across Sarawak benefitted from the ‘Back to School’ programme, with allocations amounting to nearly RM200,000, excluding the value of free services provided.
He also added that side activities, such as colouring sessions and games, were also incorporated to create a positive and engaging environment for children.
“We hope this approach will attract their interest and make the Back to School experience more meaningful,” he said.
“Education is important everywhere in the world. If more organisations do this, we can create a stronger and more encouraging environment for our children,” he said.
