KUANTAN: The Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP) has channelled RM27.3 million to benefit the state’s asnaf group, especially in the education sector, as of September. MUIP chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Hairi Hussain highlighted that all funds were sourced from the Pahang people’s tithe (zakat), ensuring their use for the well-being of Muslims.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, RM20.5 million was distributed to 18,960 students under the Bursary Assistance Scheme. Furthermore, RM5 million was allocated for initial assistance to students of Institutes of Higher Learning (IPT), benefiting 4,887 students so far. Additionally, the General Education Aid contributed RM878,125 to 26 primary and secondary school surau to promote Islamic appreciation among Muslim students.
Ahmad Hairi shared these details during his speech at the GNIUS Platform and Tablet award ceremony for Sekolah Menengah Ugama Majlis (SMUM) students and asnaf from Pahang. The event was officiated by the Sultan of Pahang
, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustaffa Billah Shah, alongside the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, who presented tablets to the asnaf students.
He further mentioned that MUIP also prioritized General Education Assistance, allocating RM245,085 for 54 Sekolah Agama Rakyat, Quran, and Fardhu Ain classes, and RM259,000 for four SMUMs. Additionally, cash distribution amounting to RM326,200 was provided to 119 poor asnaf students who entered public universities.
To support higher education, 38 asnaf children received laptops valued at RM96,000, and RM320,325 was distributed to 33 pondok schools and madrasahs to enhance the quality of pondok education. Moreover, in today’s programme, RM330,000 in wakalah funds was disbursed to benefit 434 students from SMUM, YASA-MUIP Academy, Asnaf Children’s Excellence Academy Classes (AKAF), and maahad tahfiz and pondok schools in Pahang.