GEORGE TOWN: The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) and UDA Holdings Bhd are continuing to bolster their strategic synergy through the implementation of the Sinar Kasih UDA Cares – PTPTN (Sakura) programme.
This initiative serves as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort aimed at assisting asnaf students in higher education institutions (HEI) across the country.
The programme is a continuation of the strategic collaboration established between the two organisations since 2024, aligning with their shared aspiration to empower the national higher education agenda while cultivating a savings habit and financial planning for education among the community.
The contribution handover ceremony was held at the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and was officiated by PTPTN chairman Datuk Seri Norliza Abdul Rahim.
Also in attendance were Higher Education Ministry (KPT) Polytechnic and Community College Education (JPPKK) department director-general Dr Shamsuri Abdullah, PTPTN chief executive Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid, UDA Holdings Bhd chief financial officer Farizal Zainudin, USM student development and alumni affairs (HEPA) deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan Yahaya and PTPTN Penang state office director Muhammad Muhsin Abdul Rahman.
Through this programme, UDA Holdings Bhd channelled a wakalah zakat contribution totalling RM240,000, which will benefit 1,200 asnaf students from selected public universities, polytechnics and community colleges nationwide. The contribution was deposited directly into the Simpan SSPN Prime account, with each student receiving RM200.
Norliza said, “I sincerely hope that this contribution will ease the students’ burden and boost their motivation to continue focusing on their studies.
“This ceremony reflects the strong synergy between PTPTN and UDA Holdings in empowering the national higher education agenda and expanding the culture of care and saving within the community.
“I urge the support and cooperation of all government and private agencies to collectively cultivate the habit of saving in this country. We always welcome any form of strategic collaboration for the benefit of education and the formation of the Madani generation,” she added.
Meanwhile, UDA Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuaad Kenali said, “The Sakura programme is hoped to support a more balanced human development and contribute to the formation of a competitive and resilient future generation.”
PTPTN introduced the Simpan SSPN savings instrument as the best platform to encourage the public to plan financially for higher education. Simpan SSPN offers various privileges and benefits such as income tax relief on savings up to RM8,000 per year, free takaful protection for depositors, a free matching grant of up to RM10,000 for an eligible family, competitive dividend rates, government-guaranteed savings and Shariah compliance.
