SME BANK, an agency under the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry, distributed tithes totalling RM300,000 and made a RM50,000 corporate donation to various organisations to assist frontliners in the battle against Covid-19.

In a statement today, it said most of the tithes went to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the Health Ministry, with each receiving RM100,000.

The agency also distributed tithes of RM25,000 each to four hospitals – Serdang Hospital, Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital, Sungai Buloh Hospital and Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) – through the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (Aibim) and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

Meanwhile, the RM50,000 corporate donation was given to #responsMalaysia, an initiative under the Malaysian Red Crescent Society.

SME Bank group president and chief executive officer Aria Putera Ismail said the bank had chosen to channel its zakat and corporate donation to these organisations as they are at the forefront of the fight against the virus.

“The funds will be used to buy specialised medical equipment for our frontline healthcare personnel to treat virus patients and to provide financial aid to those whose income or salary are affected by the movement-control order.

“In addition, the direct contributions to Sungai Buloh Hospital and HKL through Aibim will be used to purchase personal protective equipment, other health equipment, sanitisers and hostel equipment for the frontliners,” he said.

Meanwhile, minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the tithe and corporate donation would help support the government’s urgent need to provide infrastructure and medical facilities in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis.

“The initiative taken by SME Bank is a response to the government’s call for all its agencies and non-government agencies to work together to help the government fight the pandemic,” he said.

Last year, SME Bank distributed tithes amounting RM1.16 million to eight strategic partners, comprising three public hospitals and five public institutions of higher learning, to assist eligible asnaf receivers. – Bernama, April 7, 2020.