Yayasan Petronas Spreads Aidilfitri Cheer To Underprivileged Communities Via Sentuhan Kasih

In conjunction with the forthcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations around the country, Yayasan PETRONAS continues its yearly series of holiday donation initiatives.  This week, B40 from Selangor, Johor, Melaka, Pahang, Perak, Terengganu, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Kedah, Labuan, Sarawak, Sabah, Penang, and Kuala Lumpurwill get a total of RM 927,422 worth of merchandise.

Zukifli Othman, Head of Northern and Central Region PETRONAS (left), Shariah Nelly Francis, CEO of Yayasan PETRONAS (centre) handing over contributions to Mohamad Yusnaily Mohamad Yusof, Social Welfare Officer for Sepang, Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Selangor (right).

Rice cubes, coconut milk, rendang paste, rice, cooking oil, sugar, flour, and festive cookies were among the food supplies donated from Yayasan PETRONAS’ Program MEKAR in Kedah and Terengganu, as well as other B40 providers registered under JKM in East Malaysia. MEKAR is a flagship programme of the Foundation that provides skills training to B40 communities in order to improve their level of living and increase their income streams over time.  Not only that, COVID-19 Test (RTK) kits, hand sanitizers, sanitizing wet wipes, and face masks will also be distributed to the recipients.

(From left) Ainal Ghauth Abdul Latib@Talib, Head of Operations, PETRONAS Southern, Sazli Zakaria, Head of PETRONAS Southern, YB Datuk Kalsom Noordin, Chairman of the Melaka State Committee for Women, Family Development and Welfare Affairs and Burhanuddin Bachik, Director of Welfare Social Department of Melaka handing over contributions to a beneficiary in the state.

Yayasan PETRONAS Chief Executive Officer, Shariah Nelly Francis said “As we progressively transitions and adjust to the new normal, it is important to keep in mind of the needs f the less fortunate families, especially with the increasing cost of essential food items during the festive season.  We hope that the contributions made will help to ease the burden of these families and bring back the smiles of small business entrepreneurs during this challenging times.”

Shariah Nelly Francis, CEO of Yayasan PETRONAS (second from left) visits a beneficiary at her home in Sepang, Selangor. Nor Lili Suriani, a single mother with five children had lost her husband, the family breadwinner to COVID-19 in August last year.

Every year, Yayasan PETRONAS distributes commodities to the communities in order to improve their well-being. The goal of the Sentuhan Kasih programme is to provide a memorable celebration for the less fortunate during the festive season. Yayasan PETRONAS’ community well-being and development priority area includes the Sentuhan Kasih initiative. The programme is also in line with PETRONAS’ United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Shariah Nelly Francis, CEO of Yayasan PETRONAS and Zukifli Othman, Head of Northern and Central Region PETRONAS delivering contribution to visually-impaired Muhammad Syazani in Sepang, Selangor. He has three school-going children and works as a masseur to support his family.