MALAYSIA DONATE TENT, HEATERS TO NAMIBIA’S WINDHOEK ISLAMIC CENTRE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia on Friday contributed a huge covered tent and four gas heaters valued at RM20,000 (NAD 80,000) to Namibia's Windhoek Islamic Centre (WIC).  The donation aims to to help the Muslim minority in the country.

Malaysia's acting High Commissioner to Namibia Datuk Dr Mohamad Rameez Yahaya said the contribution was made possible by Majlis Agama Islam and Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis (MAIPs) following a special visit by the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, accompanied by officials from MAIPs and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP).

"The handing over was done right after the Friday Prayers at the Centre (WIC) that was witnessed by many of the Jemaah in the number of 400 Muslim brothers and sisters including members of the diplomatic corps from Indonesia, Ghana, and Algeria," he said in a statement.

Mohamad Rameez officially handed over the items to the Chairperson of the Windhoek Islamic Islamic Centre Board of Directors Salmaan Dhameer Jacobs at WIC.

The contribution is a testament to the cooperation and collaboration initiated by the High Commission of Malaysia in Windhoek for all Namibians regardless of race, creed, and religion.

It also signified the Malaysia MADANI philosophy overseas.

Mohamad Rameez hopes that the covered tent which can accommodate up to 500 people can be fully utilised to help Muslims in Namibia to pray peacefully and comfortably especially during winter time when the temperature can reach up to -10 degree Celsius and on a frozen soccer field to accommodate the many numbers of Muslims attending the Eid prayers.

He added during Tuanku Syed Faizuddin's visit to WIC in July, the Raja Muda of Perlis had pledged that MAIPs would also provide monetary contributions for the operational expenses of the mosque in Namibia, 15 scholarships for 15 Muslim Namibians to undertake their tertiary education at Kolej Ugama Islam Perlis (KUIP); and a fund for the operation of the Friday prayers soup kitchen for the needy.

These initiatives are expected to be implemented in January 2025, he said.

Meanwhile, Jacobs expressed his appreciation to Malaysia for the contribution, adding that the tent would enable the centre to carry out religious events and may also help generate income through rental services. 

There are an estimated 80,000 Muslims out of the three million population in Namibia.

-- BERNAMA

RMI VMP RD