KUCHING: Access to education for children from underprivileged families in Sarawak received a significant boost as 1,500 school students from low-income households were supported through the Back to School Wakalah Zakat Programme 2026, an initiative led by PETRONAS Islamic Welfare Body, Sarawak Region (BAKIP Sarawak).
The programme, held at the Wisma SABATI auditorium, reflects a targeted effort to ensure that financial constraints do not disrupt students’ schooling, particularly at the start of the academic year when expenses are at their highest.
Officiated by Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) and Samariang assemblywoman, the initiative underscores the Sarawak government’s broader commitment to strengthening educational outcomes through cross-sector collaboration.
Each beneficiary received RM300 in zakat education assistance under the Wakalah Zakat (education assistance) Dana Asyakirin 2, enabling families to cover essential school needs such as uniforms, books and learning materials.
The programme involved an allocation of RM450,000, distributed evenly across Kuching, Bintulu and Miri, with 500 students supported in each division.
The initiative was implemented in close partnership with the District Education Offices of Kuching, Bintulu and Miri, ensuring that assistance was delivered efficiently and targeted to students most in need.
To promote accountability and good governance, funds were channelled through school Parent-Teacher Association accounts, reinforcing transparency in the use of zakat funds for educational purposes.
Beyond immediate financial relief, the programme aims to improve school attendance, sustain student motivation and reduce the risk of educational disruption among children from low-income families. By addressing early-year schooling costs, the initiative supports long-term academic continuity and social mobility.
The programme also highlights PETRONAS’ ongoing commitment to community development, particularly in empowering education as a pathway out of poverty.
Through BAKIP Sarawak, PETRONAS continues to strengthen partnerships with education authorities to build a more inclusive and resilient education ecosystem in Sarawak.
Organisers expressed hope that initiatives such as this would be expanded in the future, ensuring that no child is left behind due to financial hardship, while contributing to the state’s long-term human capital development goals.
Housewife Siti Nurashikin Ahmad Kamaludin Shah, 36, hoped that the assistance would motivate her 11-year-old son, Muammar Hazim Fikri Safrie, from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Merpati Jepang, to study even harder.
“Praise be to God, Muammar was able to receive this assistance. I hope that he will do better in school, and this fund will be kept for his school needs. This is the first time he has been selected by the school for such recognition,” said Siti Nurashikin.
Self-employed father Mohd Ishaq Iskandar, 39, hoped that programmes such as this would continue to help less fortunate families in the state.
“Thank you to PETRONAS. This assistance has helped ease the burden for parents and guardians. We hope programmes like this continue to help less fortunate families. Our hope is that our children continue striving in school to achieve excellence, as envisioned by the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg through the state’s strategies to support children’s education,” said the father of three, who was accompanying his 10-year-old son, Mohd Lukman Hakim, from SK Bandar Semariang.
Meanwhile, Sapiah Mat Nor, 60, who was accompanying her 12-year-old granddaughter, Hidayah Nur Fatihah, from SK Semerah Padi, expressed her gratitude to PETRONAS for the assistance, which she said helped ease the family’s financial burden.
“This is such a meaningful assistance and it has helped motivate my granddaughter. I hope she will continue to study hard in school,” said Sapiah, who has cared for her granddaughter since she was young.
At the event, about 150 of the 300 students from 11 schools in the Kuching Division were present to receive the assistance. The schools involved were SK Merpati Jepang, SK Combined, SK Semerah Padi, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Semerah Padi, SK Green Road, SMK Green Road, SK Rakyat, SMK St Joseph, SMK Bandar Samariang, SK Bandar Semariang and SK Semariang.
Also present at the event were PETRONAS Sarawak senior general manager for Strategic Relations and Communications Anuar Ismail; Sarawak State Education Department assistant director (Education Sector) Ramona Hamden; Kuching District Education Officer Majelan Sulong; and PETRONAS Sarawak general manager and BAKIP patron Norazibah Mohd Rabu.
