BY KALSUM MOHAMMADIN
Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (YAPEIM) continues to reinforce its commitment to supporting those in need through its Aidilfitri contribution initiative, recently held at Ar-Rahnu YAPEIM Petra Jaya.
The Aidilfitri outreach programme is one of YAPEIM’s key initiatives aimed at assisting communities, particularly students, underprivileged families and local institutions. It reflects the foundation’s active role in community development and social responsibility nationwide.
The event also served as an important platform to engage directly with beneficiaries while strengthening ties between agencies, communities and donors.
According to YAPEIM manager Fadlie Zamuri, the programme forms part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to empower communities through a holistic approach focused on economic, educational and social development.
He said the initiative aligns with YAPEIM’s core objective this year of promoting inclusive and sustainable community growth.
“Overall, the programme involves 191 Ar-Rahnu YAPEIM branches across Malaysia, coordinated by state YAPEIM centres in collaboration with various strategic partners and local communities.
“It runs throughout Syawal, from March 26 to April 21 this year, benefiting a wide range of recipients, including the underprivileged, orphans, students and small-scale entrepreneurs,” he said during the launch of the Aidilfitri contribution ceremony.
At the event, a total of RM32,000 in contributions was distributed across two locations — Ar-Rahnu YAPEIM Petra Jaya and Ar-Rahnu YAPEIM UTC Sarawak — covering festive aid and celebratory allocations for 200 students from eight selected schools and madrasahs.
Among the institutions that received assistance were Sekolah Kebangsaan Gita, Sekolah Kebangsaan Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Daud, Sekolah Kebangsaan Gersik, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pulo, Sekolah Kebangsaan Agama Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir Hassan, Madrasah Darul Uloom Islamiyyah, Madrasah Al-Khairat Gita and Pondok Hidayatul Mubtadi-iin wa Tahfidzul Quran.
Fadlie expressed hope that the contributions would help meet students’ educational needs while easing the financial burden on their families.
“This is the fifth location combining two branches — Ar-Rahnu YAPEIM Petra Jaya and Ar-Rahnu YAPEIM UTC Sarawak — with four more locations to follow across Sarawak,” he added.
He emphasised that the programme’s success relies heavily on continued public support, particularly from donors contributing through the Tabung Amanah YAPEIM.
Beyond welfare assistance, YAPEIM also provides Ar-Rahnu microcredit facilities, offering a fast, accessible and Shariah-compliant financing alternative, especially for lower-income groups.
“This facility enables individuals to obtain capital for small businesses and other productive economic activities, helping to improve their standard of living and contribute to more sustainable socio-economic development,” he said.
Fadlie also noted that the Ar-Rahnu YAPEIM Petra Jaya branch has recorded encouraging performance, with strong uptake from the local community.
To date, 3,536 customers have utilised the service, with more than 31,000 pawning transactions recorded for purposes such as education, business and secure savings — a clear reflection of public trust in YAPEIM’s services.
“The success of this programme would not have been possible without the strong support of the community, especially donors who have contributed generously. Their contributions have helped many individuals and families overcome financial hardship through comprehensive and impactful welfare programmes.
“We extend our deepest appreciation to all parties involved — organisers, volunteers, strategic partners and donors — for their dedication and commitment in making this initiative a success,” he said.
At the same time, he encouraged those who are able to continue contributing regularly so that more individuals in need can be assisted in the future.
Such sustained efforts not only ease the burden on recipients but also serve as a catalyst for their long-term wellbeing and success.
YAPEIM thus continues to play a vital role as a driver of inclusive, resilient and sustainable community development.
