In an effort to bolster the education sector in the country, Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad (MARC), one of Malaysia’s leading financial services providers in Malaysia, presented zakat contributions totalling RM68,000 to two esteemed higher learning institutions, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). These donations were made possible through zakat deductions from MARC staff, obtained from Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP).
The handover ceremony, held at the MARC office, is a part of MARC's annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. The donations were presented by MARC's Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Jamaludin Nasir, to Professor Madya Dr. Mohd Daud Awang, the Director of Pengurusan Wakaf, Zakat dan Endowmen (WAZAN) at UPM, and Ahmad Hairi Rabbani Ahmad Puhad, Head of Zakat Distribution at UKM. A total of 136 asnaf students will benefit from these contributions, aimed at alleviating their financial burden and supporting their academic endeavours.
Datuk Jamaludin Nasir expressed the company's belief in the transformative power of education as the cornerstone of a prosperous society. He stated, "We are delighted to channel our zakat contributions towards deserving asnaf students at UPM and UKM. By lightening their financial load, we hope to enable them to focus on their studies. We extend our heartfelt wishes as they embark on their journey towards academic excellence."
MARC envisions this CSR initiative as a catalyst for forging stronger bonds between industry and academia. The group hopes to establish enduring collaborations and partnerships, fostering mutual growth and development in the future.