PayNet launches digital aid for Sabah

Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) has partnered with Gobarakah Tech (Gobarakah) to deliver targeted relief to rural communities impacted by floods and landslides in Penampang, Sabah. 

The digital flood relief supported over 140 individuals from 47 households in heavily-affected areas, including Kampung Madsiang, Kampung Sogumau, Kampung Inobong, Kampung Limbata, and Country Heights.

This marks PayNet’s first digital aid initiative in rural Sabah and its second relief effort for Penampang. Beneficiaries were verified and onboarded onto Gobarakah’s platform, receiving e-vouchers, enabling impacted households to redeem essential goods via Koperasi Wawasan Rakyat Sabah’s mobile supply trucks and local grocery stores. Earlier this year, PayNet also supported repairs at the Madsiang Community Learning Centre (under Moyoq Innovation House) damaged by the 2024 floods.

“The current monsoon season has heavily impacted the residents of Penampang. Our goal was to provide greater control and flexibility in the flood aid relief to the impacted residents. This digital approach in partnership with Gobarakah, empowers beneficiaries to choose what they needed and assures donors that contributions reach the intended recipients,” said Farhan Ahmad, Group CEO of PayNet.

Source: PayNet. Representatives from PayNet and Gobarakah together with residents from Penampang.

Bangladesh receives schools designed as cyclone shelters from IDB

Islamic Development Bank representative Dr Mohammad Hassan Salem has formally handed over 34 schools which also double as cyclone shelters as part of the third phase of the Fael Khair Program in Bangladesh. The programme is funded by a grant from the late King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of KSA.

A total of 95 out of 174 planned school-cum-cyclone shelters have been handed over so far. Each building will serve as a modern educational institution for 240 students and can also provide shelter to 2,000 people and 500 cattle during the country’s frequent cyclones.

The late King Abdullah’s grant of US$130 million for relief and assistance to the victims of cyclone Sidr, which hit in 2007, has been utilised as follows:

• US$110 million to construct 174 School-cum-Cyclone Shelters in the coastal belt of Bangladesh
• US$20 million waqf (Editor's note: a endowment made by a Muslim for a cause) as partial support to maintain the buildings and to provide urgent relief and rehabilitation through agricultural and other inputs to the affected population

The buildings are designed to withstand top wind speeds of up to 260 km/h. The green facilities are equipped with solar power and durable school furniture. They also have potable water systems, including rain water harvesting, to supply safe drinking water.

Takaful Ikhlas expedites takaful claims for flood damage

Takaful IKHLAS has simplified its takaful claim service for claims caused by floods in the light of recent flooding in Malaysia.

The service is open to all takaful Fire and House Owner/ Household plan holders offered by Takaful IKHLAS. The customers only need to contact the nearest Takaful IKHLAS Regional Office, after which the appointed official adjuster will visit the property affected by the calamity, then set the claims process in motion. An SMS notification is sent to the customer after the claim is approved.

Interested?

Contact Takaful IKHLAS at +603 2723 9696
Mondays to Thursdays 8:30am to 5.30pm, or on Fridays from 8:30am to 5pm.

Customers can also contact the appointed adjusters or Takaful Ikhlas' Regional Offices.

Appointed adjusters include: 

East Coast Malaysia Region - Kelantan, Terengganu & Pahang: 

• Malaysian Broadwide Adjusters, hotline: +603 4266 5071
• Mestari Adjusters, hotline: +603 7989 0310 or +603 7989 0311

Southern and Eastern Malaysia Region - Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah, Sarawak & Labuan:

• Crawford & Company Adjusters, hotline: +601 9332 9332

Central and Northern Malaysia Region - Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak, Penang, Kedah & Perlis:

• Associated Adjusters, hotline: +601 3430 4612 (Mr Prebesh) / +601 2361 2453 (Mr Vishnu)

Singapore's RLAF opens up channels for donations to Myanmar flood victims

All 69 mosques in Singapore, in collaboration with Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF), are participating in a fund raising effort in aid of flood victims in Myanmar.

According to a statement by the RLAF, 12 out of 14 states and regions in Myanmar are suffering from the effects of severe flooding, with four regions designated as disaster zones. The cyclone-battered western state of Rakhine is the hardest hit. The RLAF notes that over 100 people have died and more than 1 million are deemed "critically affected" by the rising floods, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

"Thi s is the worst natural disaster since Cyclone Nargis killed nearly 140 ,000 people in May 2008," noted the RLAF in a statement.

Funds collected will be handed over to Mercy Relief which is currently on the ground to provide relief and aid in the form of food, clean water, medicine and basic necessities and possibly the rebuilding of homes devastated by the floods.

Interested?

Donation boxes have been placed at all 69 mosques and will be open up to Friday, 21 August 2015. All boxes will be marked Special Collection for Victims of Myanmar Floods.

Members of the public can also offer donations in cash or by cheque. All cheques should be made payable to RLAF with Special Collection In Aid of Victims of Myanmar Floods written on the back. Cash and cheques can be delivered to the Muis Building at the Singapore Islamic Hub, No 273, Braddell Road Singapore 579702. In addition, the public can make their contributions online up to 31 August 2015.

Digi sponsors calls to 24-hour Talian Nur and Childline hotlines

From left: Philip Ling, Project Manager for Safe Internet, Digi Telecommunications, Mohd Shamil Mohd Yusoff, Head, Outreach & Corporate Communications, Outreach & Capacity Building Division, CyberSecurity Malaysia, Dato' Sabariah Hassan, Secretary General, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), Dato’ Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), Joachim Rajaram, Head of Communications & Corporate Responsibility, Digi Telecommunications, and Datin PH Wong, Steering Committee member, Childline Malaysia.

Digi Telecommunications is offering free calls to the 24-hour helplines Talian Nur and Childline 15999 in partnership with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development Malaysia (KPWKM) and Childline Malaysia.

This initiative is an extension to the CyberSAFE in Schools programme, a programme by CyberSecurity Malaysia in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Malaysia, Childline Malaysia and Digi. It is also in line with Digi’s aim to provide Safe Internet to families and children besides providing them easy access to an alternative support platform to turn to, in the event of an unpleasant online experience.

The Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), Dato’ Sri Rohani Abdul Karim said, “Nowadays, we can see how the Internet has become ubiquitous with more people embracing it as part of their lifestyles. Unfortunately cyber threats are increasing in tandem with the prevalence of the Internet. Hence, we have to take all the necessary precautions to ensure our children’s safety when they are on the Internet. This effort is a fine example of how the public and private sectors can come together and collaborate in addressing key issues that are affecting the nation. We also applaud Digi’s continuous commitment towards safeguarding our children who are susceptible to Internet threats and risks.”

Effective immediately, affected families - especially children, can now make free calls to 15999 Talian Nur and Childline from all Digi prepaid and postpaid numbers. Talian Nur is a hotline link to enable early intervention for victims of domestic violence and natural disasters, while 15999 Childline is a confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people to seek information, share feelings and get needed help.

According to Philip Ling, Digi’s Project Manager for Safe Internet, Digi has been a strong advocate for child safety and the right of the child to be protected on the Internet. “With the increasing rate of cybercrimes particularly targeting children, we want to make sure that they are adequately protected against possible danger on the net. This includes providing easy access to ways in which they can seek help. 

"We were inspired to do this by the recent CyberSAFE in Schools survey, which indicated that some children were not aware of the availability of online or phone-in help centres like Childline that can provide them with a safety net for problems related to the Internet. Now, children can easily make calls to get help without worrying about the costs, while the portability of mobile phones offers them greater privacy when discussing their concerns with the trained Childline 15999 call centre operators.”

Datin PH Wong, Steering Committee member of Childline Malaysia said that this initiative is great news for 15999 Childline as in many cases, children are unable to seek help because calls are currently chargeable. “Child helplines are a vital mechanism for countries to listen directly to children giving first hand data on issues that matter to them and are impacting their lives especially on Internet safety. We will continue to advocate for a totally free 24-hour child helpline. We applaud Digi’s commitment to make calls free to 15999 Childline as it will now give children a lifeline to access help anywhere and anytime,” she added. 

Childline Malaysia, initiated by the Malaysian Children TV Programme Foundation (MCTF), is a member of Child Helpline International.

Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab, Chief Executive Officer, CyberSecurity Malaysia said, “The CyberSAFE programme is one of the initiatives developed by CyberSecurity Malaysia to educate and enhance the awareness of the general public on the technological and social issues facing Internet users, particularly on online dangers and cyber threats. In order to ensure the continuation of cyber safety and Internet security awareness as well as educational activities for children, all parties must come together and collaborate. 

"We foresee that as cyber security incidents increase dramatically each year, children are also being exposed to various cyber threats and may potentially become victims of cybercrimes in Malaysia. We are certainly delighted with the support given by Digi in taking the CyberSAFE programme to the next level. It is indeed an intelligent collaboration that reaches out to children nationwide.”