TWENTY pupils from SK La Salle 1 Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur were all smiles after receiving cash vouchers at a back-to-school programme ahead of the new school term.
They were part of 1,470 students from low-income households nationwide who received RM100 back-to-school vouchers under Bank Rakyat’s Madani Community Outreach Initiative: Back to School 2026.
The initiative, now in its fourth year, was carried out in partnership with Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd.
At the ceremony held at Pasaraya Mydin in USJ 1, Subang Jaya, the pupils were accompanied by parents and teachers before proceeding to the hypermarket to redeem their vouchers.
Bank Rakyat chief marketing and communications officer Nizam Sani and Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd executive director Ahimmat Mydin presented the RM100 vouchers to the pupils.
The total value of assistance distributed nationwide under the initiative last year was RM147,000.
Nizam said the programme reflected the bank’s continued commitment toward community building.
“This initiative reflects Bank Rakyat’s ongoing commitment to support the government’s aspiration to empower communities and to uphold sustainable social development, especially in education,” he said.
“The contribution also aligns with the well-being value under Malaysia Madani, which places emphasis on education to produce responsible individuals who are able to contribute back to the country’s socio-economic growth,” he said.
Nizam said the back-to-school programme was implemented nationwide, with participating schools from every state.
“Over the past week, we have distributed assistance to various government schools nationwide, involving 1,470 recipients.”
Bank Rakyat has been running similar assistance on a smaller scale prior to 2022, but has since expanded the programme.
Since 2022, Bank Rakyat and Yayasan Bank Rakyat have channelled more than RM1.3mil in back-to-school assistance, benefiting over 12,000 students across the country.
Nizam said the initiative was aimed at easing the cost pressures faced by lower-income families during the school reopening period.
“We know back-to-school costs are high, so this programme helps ease the burden on families with lower income and allows children to focus on their studies without worrying about basic necessities,” he said.
Nizam added that recipient selection was carried out in collaboration with schools tasked with identifying students most in need.
He said the programme also supported Bank Rakyat’s broader efforts in promoting financial literacy among children through initiatives such as the Nuri savings account.
“Financial literacy, including saving from a young age, is something we strongly emphasise,” he said.
The initiative was jointly funded by Bank Rakyat and Yayasan Bank Rakyat.
Also present were Mydin director Datin Dr Siti Hawa Mohd, Yayasan Bank Rakyat human resources and administration manager Mohammad Ferdaus Muhammad Sharoni, Bank Rakyat central and southern regional director Roslan Din and SK La Salle 1 Jinjang representative Sofiah Insyirah Zulkefli.
