Takaful Malaysia launches student food aid programme with nutritious meals for 1,000 Asnaf students

Takaful Malaysia group chief executive officer Nor Azman Zainal (right) and Takaful Malaysia Am chief executive officer Mohamed Sabri Ramli (left) at the ‘Di Hatiku’ Student Food Aid Programme event in Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: The first takaful operator in Malaysia, Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad (Takaful Malaysia), collaborated with the Ministry of Education to provide daily nutritious meals to 1,000 Asnaf students in ten primary schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on Sept 6.

This corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme is known as the “Di Hatiku” Student Food Aid Programme and is aligned with the company’s CSR and sustainability agenda of nation-building

and improving the health, physical condition and nutrition of underprivileged students.

Takaful Malaysia group chief executive officer Nor Azman Zainal, said, “We initiated the food aid program to fulfil our responsibility as an Islamic financial institution in distributing Zakat to eligible Asnaf (tithe) recipients.

“We aim to create sustainable value in the local community through this program by providing daily nutritious meals and improving the nutrition intake among underprivileged students.

“Our responsibility and commitment is to assist the Government in addressing malnutrition by empowering the children with healthy meals. This is also in line with the spirit of takaful, which is

helping one another, especially the needy.”

The programme was launched in July this year, involving 1,000 Asnaf students in ten primary schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Through the food aid programme, Takaful Malaysia supplies daily set meals to eligible Asnaf students from low-income families at the respective schools, which is scheduled to run until February next year, for the school academic year of 2023/2024.

“Our call is to do our part and be a good corporate citizen by helping and empowering the younger generation with nutritious food.

“Realising the importance of Asnaf students from low-income families having access to balanced meals at school, we decided to initiate this effort and lend a helping hand.

“Hence, we work closely with the MoE, selected school administrators and canteen operators to manage and implement the food aid programme properly.”

He added that each selected student is provided with a complete lunch box set, and the daily menu selection is based on the food pyramid for children, which consists of vegetables, fruits and protein sources to suit the students’ needs.

“We also provide the children with water bottles to encourage them to drink more water and stay hydrated.”

Nor Azman (centre), Mohamed Sabri (second from right) and Ministry of Education, School Management Division,Student Affairs Sector, Student Welfare and Health Management Unit assistant director Hairunizad Haron (right) and SKSeri Bonus headmaster Datin Malihan (left) at the “Di Hatiku” Student Food Aid Programme event in Kuala Lumpur.

The “Di Hatiku” Student Food Aid Programme supports the Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate malnutrition and ensure regular access, particularly to Asnaf and underprivileged children by providing nutritious and sufficient food for normal growth and development and healthy life.

“Putting a smile on the children’s faces and seeing them enjoying their meals are our best rewards.

“We are pleased that this food aid programme has received a positive and overwhelming response and hope it will continue to benefit the Asnaf students,” said Nor Azman Zainal in conclusion.