MADANI COMMUNITY FUND HELPS KUBANG BADAK SURAU LAUNCH CATFISH FARM PROJECT

KUALA NERUS, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Government funding channelled through the Sejahtera Komuniti MADANI@KPT (Sejati MADANI@KPT) programme has helped the community of Surau At-Taqwa in Kubang Badak here generate their own income.

Surau committee chairman, Ismail Ibrahim, 51, said the RM50,000 allocation from the MADANI government, channelled via Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), has been fully utilised to kickstart a catfish farming project within the surau compound.

He said the project, which began on July 1 last year, involves 12 participants, mainly senior citizens and single mothers without a fixed income.

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“At present, we have 10 fish tanks, each capable of holding about 5,000 catfish fry.

“All processes, from purchasing fry to managing finances, are handled by the participants, who are members of the surau congregation, under the guidance of UMT lecturers and experts,” he told reporters at the surau here today.

Ismail, who also chairs the Kubang Badak Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JKKKP), said the programme has so far generated an income of around RM2,000 per month, which is distributed among the participants and the surau fund.

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Although the returns are modest, he said the project has helped supplement household expenses for participants, most of whom are from the B40 income group.

“The government should introduce more programmes like this as they provide local communities with opportunities to earn their own income, thereby easing financial burdens amid the rising cost of living.

“The proceeds from the catfish sales are also channelled into the surau fund to support community activities such as religious talks, feasts and gatherings, ensuring everyone benefits,” he said.

He said besides catfish farming, the group has also started growing cucumbers around the surau area to generate additional income.

-- BERNAMA