By Nisrin Amani
GOMBAK, 3 September 2021: A total of 50 families of Orang Asli in Gombak received food box donations through IIUM Alumni Sentuhan Kasih 2.0 programme in conjunction with Merdeka celebration as part of an initiative to uphold the concept of Rahmatan Lil ‘Alamin.
IIUM Alumni Sentuhan Kasih 2.0 programme was conducted to mark the celebrations of Malaysia’s Independence from 18 August until 16 September which is Malaysia Day. The programme focuses on helping the community within the vicinity of IIUM campus, mainly the Orang Asli in Gombak.
IIUM Alumni Relations Division (IIUM ARD) collaborated with Jungle School Gombak Malaysia (JSGM) and the International Islamic University Malaysia Jungle School Initiatives (IIUM JSI) to help the Orang Asli Gombak families who are affected by the pandemic.
The programme received almost RM3,000 worth of food boxes sponsored by Yayasan Al-Bukhary and Yayasan Budi to allocate to 50 families of Orang Asli in Gombak.
Each family received a food box consisting of rice, cooking oil, flour, sugar, canned food, and other essential food items. The food boxes were distributed to families of Orang Asli on 22 August.
Due to the pandemic restrictions, the food boxes could not be distributed directly to each family. The donations were handed over by the Director of IIUM ARD, Tuan Haji Mir Azrul bin Shaharudin to Tok Batin Ulang bin Sipang, Encik Kelana and Encik Sali Bah Nap on behalf of the 50 families of Orang Asli Gombak.
A representative from Yayasan Budi, Muammar Khadafi, who was also one of IIUM alumni, was also present during the distribution. Two stations were set up at Kampung Sungai Rumput Batu 12 and Kampung Batu 16 to ease the distribution of food boxes.
Director of IIUM ARD, Haji Mir Azrul bin Shaharudin, shared that one of the representatives of Orang Asli, Tok Batin Ulang bin Sipang, was very grateful for this initiative as many families of the Orang Asli in Gombak have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. ***