Ahmad Badli (centre) at the Kongsi Nikmat Bersama Agrobank event that provides food for students at Universiti Putra Malaysia to break fast while others look on. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
UNDERGRADUATE students from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Agriculture Faculty were treated to a free meal of tomato rice and ayam masak merah together with a pudding for dessert, to break fast at iftar.
For the second time Agrobank, the main sponsor of the Kongsi Nikmat Bersama Agrobank, stepped up to provide the boxed meal, working together with UPM’s Students Affairs Department and Star Media Group’s (SMG) mStar.
Agrobank president/ chief executive officer Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin said the meals for iftar were given to 200 students with UPM’s Agriculture Faculty.
“Being an annual event, the Kongsi Nikmat Bersama Agrobank programme gives the financial institution an opportunity to provide for the undergraduates,” he said.
Students were also given goodie bags in a simple ceremony.
‘The Kongsi Nikmat Bersama Agrobank programme gives the financial institution an opportunity to provide for the undergraduates,’ says Ahmad Badli.
Ahmad Badli described the coming together of both organisations as the right fit as UPM was formerly an agricultural university while Agrobank, established in 1969, was actively involved in charting the growth and development of Malaysia’s agricultural industry.
“As many are aware, Agrobank and UPM have a similar history of establishment. Agrobank started as Bank Pertanian Malaysia and UPM was initially known as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, and subsequently grew into an institution that plays a major role in contributing to the progress and development of the country with its own mandate and expertise.
“I am very grateful to mStar for providing an opportunity for us to be together in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. This time it involved university students.
"This Kongsi Nikmat program is held specially during the month of Ramadan with the aim of further expanding the reach of Agrobank community services in providing contributions and assistance, especially to our target group, the unserved and underserved community.
“At Agrobank, we are committed to continue to play our role as a responsible corporate citizen and deliver our social obligation, to be actively involved in various social and community programmes, which are not only specific to the Agro community only, but also cover all aspects of social development including education, the local community and so on.
“I am also very excited with the students of the Faculty of Agriculture this time, because along with our mandate and hope they can study well and play an important role in food security in Malaysia one day," he said.
Agrobank offers syariah-compliant products and solutions across various customer segments,
including corporate, commercial, consumer, trade finance and micro financing.
UPM undergraduates at the Kongsi Nikmat Bersama Agrobank with their goodie bags.
Agricultural Faculty Students Society president Nor Harriz, 25, said he was thankful for Agrobank’s effort to reach out and provide for the students.
“I believe this charity event will also create a stronger bond between Agrobank and UPM’s students,” he said.
Student Irfan Habib, 26, appreciated the meal given and hoped that Agrobank and mStar will continue the annual event.
Second year student, Imran Junid, 21, said all the students are grateful for the generous donation during the fasting month as it would help save on food expenses.
“Every little help for students on a tight budget is taken as a blessing,” he added, thanking Agrobank and SMG’s mStar for the initiative.
Also present at the event were Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) deputy vice-chancellor (student affairs and alumni) Prof Dr Arifin Abdu, mStar chief news editor Nizam Abdullah and SMG Client Brand Marketing general manager Juniza Yasmin Hussein.
