Salahuddin (second from right) speaking to some of the local artists at the launch of RIM's charity initiative. - Photo: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) launched the "Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik" charity programme on Wednesday (May 31) in an effort to assist needy local music practitioners.
RIM chairman Rosmin Hashim said the association received annual funding support of RM100,000 from Public Performance Malaysia (PPM), which is the oldest collective management organisation in the country.
"Under this programme, music industry practitioners ranging from singers, musicians, songwriters to public relations officers of record companies who are facing difficulties due to various factors can apply for financial assistance from the newly established ‘Sumbangan Rahmah’,” he said when speaking at the launch.
The launch, which was officiated by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub is in line with the "Payung Rahmah" initiative to help ease the people’s cost of living.
Meanwhile, Rosmin said applications for the financial aid will open from Thursday (June 1) and forms can be obtained via the website www.rim.org.my/sumbangan-rahmah-application.
At the same time, he said Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik was an expansion of the emergency fund that was established earlier to provide immediate financial assistance to music industry practitioners who experienced financial problems at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We are concerned about the plight of veteran artistes who are struggling to make ends meet as well as those who need help paying their huge medical bills. We are very grateful that a programme like this has been successfully implemented.
"Just like the previous RIM Emergency Fund, we will comply with the parameters and conditions set in the distribution of financial assistance from the Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik fund to eligible applicants,” he said.
At the event, Salahuddin handed over mock cheques worth RM2,000 to several music industry practitioners who were also the first recipients of Rahmah aid.
Among them were singers Zaiton Sameon, Ali Ismail or better known as Ali XPDC, Sazali P. Ramlee and Ben Nathan. - Bernama
