By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, Jan 12 — The Selangor Menteri Besar (Incorporated) or MBI spends over RM200,000 this year to enliven the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.
Its Corporate Social Responsibility head Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor said the donation includes baskets of dry food and organising open houses at the state level as well as at the state assembly level.
“More than 500 food baskets worth RM100 each have been distributed to low-income residents around Klang, Kuala Langat and Permatang to help complete their festivities.
“For the state open house celebration, MBI has donated RM100,000 to the programme that is expected to be held at the end of this month in addition to the celebrations for Sekinchan state assembly,” he said when contacted by SelangorKini.
Last year, MBI allocated RM500,000 to help non-Muslim residents to prepare for their festivities either through cash donations or food baskets.
Meanwhile, MBI is also allocating RM1 million a year to help individuals or parties who have the potential to enhance the name of Selangor.
Ahmad Azri said the fund initiative through empowerment is the state government’s encouragement or appreciation to the recipients who brought Selangor’s name to the world.
“This assistance is also open to groups or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who have brought a positive impact on Selangor. Yesterday, we handed over (the sponsorship) to a Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Puchong Permai student.
“Nuraleesha Afreen had represented Malaysia in the final round of the HIPPO International Olympiad competition in Italy. The sponsorship amount to RM10,000 is to cover the cost of shopping and flights,” he said.
Ahmad Azri added that last year, MBI also sponsored Selangor-born athlete Qaseh Rania Khairul Najib, 13, and was proud of the student’s current achievements.
“Rania appeared in a promotional video for the 2022 Asean Football Federation Cup (AFF) which was also shown at the Bukit Jalil Stadium. I am glad that Rania is now becoming known to many.
“MBI came forward to give Rania the opportunity to show her abilities when no one wanted to sponsor her. It turns out that our efforts are worth it,” he said.
Last year, Rania and her brother Luth Qayyim, 16, received MBI sponsorship to attend a programme with Croatian first division football club, NK Osijek.
