KUALA LUMPUR, 2 August 2013 – Caring for the less fortunate and needy during the festive season is part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities carried out by many organisations. Many may see some charitable organisations being spoilt with all the attention showered upon them but for some homes which are less in the limelight and do not receive much assistance, contributions made by organisations like Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) are a blessing. 

YSD recently presented festive assistance to 24 welfare homes and organisations, in conjunction with the Holy month of Ramadhan. Some of these homes are unregistered with the Welfare department and do not receive much assistance due to their status. The presentations were made during visits to some of the homes namely Pusat Jagaan Kasih Harapan (PJKH), Badan Kebajikan Siti Khadijah (BKSK), Rumah Bakti Cahaya Hati (RBCH), Rumah Siraman Kasih Rawang (RSKR), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ibu Tunggal An-Nur KL & Selangor (KITA), Persatuan Kebajikan Al-Fikrah Malaysia (FIKRAH), Pusat Jagaan Baitus Sakinah Wal Mahabbah, Pusat Jagaan Lambaian Kasih, Rumah Nur Kasih Bestari and Pertubuhan Rahoma Darul. 

In addition to these, YSD also extended assistance to residents from 13 shelter homes and marginalised communities who participated in the Program Tadarus Perdana (TADARUS), which was held in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS). The foundation also reached out to 300 of the underprivileged, consisting of orphans, children from poor families, senior citizens and single mothers through Masjid Ar-Rahimah Kg Pandan. More than 1,400 people benefitted from the festive assistance, comprising food supplies and duit raya packets in addition to a sumptuous buka puasa spread featuring favourite local dishes.

Besides volunteers consisting of YSD employees, the visits, held from July 19 to August 2, also saw the participation of Sime Darby employees from divisions under the Sime Darby Volunteers Programme where employees are encouraged to contribute their time and effort to a cause of their choice, based on the menu of volunteerism programmes available. YSD Chief Executive Officer Puan Hajjah Yatela Zainal Abidin said the festive assistance under the Sinar Harapan programme captured the spirit of the holy month of Ramadhan, which encouraged Muslims to do good deeds through charity. 

“Ramadhan is an occasion to do charity and other good deeds by helping the poor and less fortunate segments of society, including children, who are often subject to various forms of violence and exploitation. The organisations we assist include orphanages, a home for ill and abandoned old folks, and associations for marginalised groups,” she said. The presentation of assistance was carried out under YSD’s ‘Sinar Harapan’ programme, translated to mean a ray of hope and providing direct assistance to selected charitable homes. 

All 24 homes assisted will be considered and evaluated for sustainable assistance under the programme, which include the registration of unregistered homes with the relevant authorities and providing assistance that are critical to the homes’ needs by sponsoring renovations, equipment, transportation or food supplies. Sinar Harapan is YSD's first major programme to assist underprivileged communities with various critical needs. 

The programme, which receives a yearly allocation of RM1 million, falls under YSD's Community Development pillar that promotes the well-being of disadvantaged people, irrespective of race, culture, religion, creed and gender. Last year, YSD gave festive assistance to 23 homes in the Klang Valley in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Christmas and Chinese New Year festive seasons. YSD will also be doing the same for the next Deepavali, Christmas and Chinese New Year celebrations. 

In addition to its flagship CSR initiative, YSD also supports other organisations and initiatives under its community development pillar such as the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF), Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Malaysia AIDS Council (MAC), Society for the Advancement of the Blind (PPOBM), Tabung Leukemia YSD, the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD) and Yayasan Chow Kit (YCK) among others.