YAYASAN Hasanah and Khazanah Nasional Berhad have launched a cashless welfare programme where bottom 40 (B40) families only need to show their identification card in order to receive food items at selected retail outlets.

The programme kicked off over the Hari Raya Aidiladha weekend at various locations including Sabah and Sarawak.

It targets 250 families from underprivileged communities whose incomes have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. They will be given food aid over a period of six months, Yayasan Hasanah said in a statement.

“The food aid programme is timely as many families needed financial aid to celebrate Raya and we are happy to be able to assist the B40 households with basic provisions.

“Each family will receive RM200 in food aid a month by using their MyKad to purchase provisions at selected retail outlets,” said Yayasan Hasanah managing director Shahira Ahmed Bazari on the programme called MyKasih Love My Neighbourhood.

To date, the foundation’s programme has benefited a total of 105,174 beneficiaries through its Hasanah Special Grant 2020 and Hasanah Disaster Relief Funds. 

Shahira also said they have included artisans involved in the traditional and heritage art form nationwide as beneficiaries as they too, have been badly impacted by the pandemic. 

Others included as aid recipients are craftsmen, heritage and culture art practitioners as well as tour guides.

MyKasih Foundation chairman and co-founder, Dr Ngau Boon Keat, said they are grateful to the foundation for partnering with them on this initiative. 

“We hope other organisations who are keen to help B40 communities will consider leveraging on our MyKad-based cashless welfare distribution platform, which we are happy to offer for use at no cost to ensure that aid recipients get the full benefit of charitable giving.”

The foundation also said the aid will be channelled to daily wage earners, such as farmers, fishermen and small stall operators. – August 4, 2020.