ALOR GAJAH: Smiles lit up the faces of several underprivileged children in Masjid Tanah here when they were given the rare chance to choose their own Hari Raya Aidilfitri outfits during a special shopping outing with Melaka Chief Minister.
Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the children were invited for the shopping trip after community leaders submitted the names of families who could not afford new festive attire.
“It was touching to see the joy of these children receiving their clothes.
"I have also invited them to join me for buka puasa at my home,” he said after the shopping outing at a clothing outlet in Masjid Tanah on Saturday (March 7).
Ab Rauf said the state government had allocated RM13.7mil this year to safeguard the welfare of those in need in conjunction with Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
He said RM11.9mil of the allocation had been channelled throughout this Ramadan month in various forms of assistance and contributions, particularly for the hardcore poor.
In addition, he said the state government had also set aside RM1.8mil as Hari Raya Aidilfitri assistance benefiting 11,351 recipients.
Ab Rauf added that throughout Ramadan, the state government would continue organising religious and community programmes to enliven the holy month while strengthening faith and fostering closer ties among the people.
He said this included mass iftar programmes where about 3,000 people would be served a variety of dishes and delicacies.
