Kuala Lumpur, 6 Feb 2021 – The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has affected our daily lives, with the underprivileged bearing the brunt of the economic contractions. With this in mind, a group of INCEIF staff led by President & CEO Prof Dato’ Dr Azmi Omar today paid a visit to a small community of the indigenous Temuan tribe at Kampung Orang Asli, Pangsun in Hulu Langat, Selangor.

Comprising six households, the 26 residents including babies and elderlies live in dilapidated houses, without basic amenities of piped water and electricity. The majority of the adults do not have full-time jobs and rely mostly on foraging nearby secondary jungle for food and items of value, a situation made worst by the Movement Control Order. Even during normal times, they did not have a steady supply of staple food such as rice and for most of the households with infants and toddlers, infant milk powder.

During the visit, assisted by community elder Mr Aki, INCEIF staff took stock of the immediate and future needs of the residents with the plan to fulfil the needs in the next visits. Among the to-do-items in the pipeline are setting up solar energy panels, starting a literacy programme and ensuring a steady supply of care packages. On behalf of INCEIF, Dato’ Azmi handed over funds to Mr Aki to purchase new roofs and walls for the houses.

To widen the scope of assistance, INCEIF would be partnering with Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli and the District Health Office for this project.

Research Management Centre Director Assoc Prof Dr Baharom Abdul Hamid, who is coordinating this CSR project, said: “This community got our attention due to their dire circumstance, and the manageable size of its population would enable us to take on this project on a longer term basis. At least until they have decent shelter and a chance to upgrade their current situation. INCEIF, as a proponent of equality and inclusion for all as propagated by Islamic finance, believes no one should be left behind. We strive to do our part in engaging with the local communities, particularly those in need, going beyond simply providing knowledge to meeting the social needs of the people as well.”

Since the pandemic and with the first phase of the MCO carried out in March last year, INCEIF CSR activities have included assisting INCEIF students who were financially affected by it. The Registry and Student Service Department worked closely with the INCEIF Student Representative Council to identify those in need, and gave away Basic Food Aid and Internet Connectivity Aid.

Ends.