MAIDAM ALLOCATES RM16.5 MILLION FOR KAHA 2025 PROGRAMME

KUALA NERUS, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM) has allocated RM16.5 million in zakat assistance to be distributed through the Agihan Hak Asnaf Fakir Miskin Convoy (KAHA) programme this year.

Its president Datuk Shaikh Harun Shaikh Ismail said that of the total, RM13.45 million was distributed to 25,162 heads of households from the asnaf and hardcore poor categories across the state under the first phase of KAHA 2025, which ran from Jan 1 to Aug 31.

“The second phase of distribution runs from Sept 1 to Dec 31, with 5,000 heads of households receiving a total of RM3 million in assistance,” he told reporters at a food basket presentation for KAHA 2025 recipients around Kuala Nerus at Masjid Bukit Tunggal here today.

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He said the recipients of the special assistance were selected from the list of beneficiaries of four MAIDAM assistance categories this year, namely monthly aid, subsistence assistance, rental assistance and general medical assistance.

He added that, in line with current developments, MAIDAM has introduced reforms to the KAHA programme this year by implementing cashless zakat distributions of between RM300 and RM700 for each eligible household.

He said that under this approach, the assistance is credited directly into the recipients’ accounts, and redemption can be made at selected shops or premises appointed by MAIDAM through the programme operator, ME12PAY Digital Sdn Bhd. Recipients only need to present their identification card to redeem the goods.

He said the assistance can be used to redeem various items and services, including wet and dry food supplies, clothing such as school uniforms, utility bill payments, as well as treatment and medication at clinics and pharmacies.

Meanwhile, MAIDAM chief executive officer Associate Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Azrin Adnan said the KAHA 2025 programme today involved MAIDAM and zakat contributors visiting four recipient families at their homes around Kuala Nerus.

He said such visits help bring MAIDAM’s management and zakat contributors closer to the aid recipients.

“Apart from strengthening relationships, KAHA also enhances trust in the state’s zakat management system. At the same time, it demonstrates MAIDAM’s commitment to strengthening zakat as an instrument for community development and expanding welfare services to the public,” he said.

-- BERNAMA