BANGI: The cooperation between Media Prima Bhd (MPB) and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) via the MPB - New Straits Times Press Humanitarian Fund brought cheer to members of the underprivileged community from Kampung Sungai Kembong Hilir, Bangi Lama on Sunday.
The National Day gotong royong programme, themed ‘Memerdekakan Golongan Asnaf’ (Liberating the underprivileged) for the first time involved UPNM’s Defence Studies and Management Faculty.
NSTP corporate communications head, Wan Abdillah Wan Nawi, said the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme was meant to foster the spirit of volunteerism through charity work.
He said MPB had in the span of a year organised 20 CSR programmes. He hoped that this would lead to even more cooperation with other parties, including universities such as UPNM.
“Our CSR programmes have, over the course of 20 years, helped thousands of people. Among the annual programmes are Titipan Kasih Harian Metro, Ibadah Korban and many others.
“We look forward to more volunteers as well as personal and corporate contributions to make these events a success,” he said.
Also present was Kolonel Amirudin Datuk Sulaiman, who is the Senior Lecturer of UPNM’s Defence Studies and Management Faculty.
Around 60 volunteers comprising UPNM cadets and students, as well as MPB - NSTP’s volunteer brigade, took part in the programme by cleaning and painting dilapidated homes.
Wan Abdillah also handed over donations such as daily necessities and mattresses, worth about RM200, to each recipient.
Meanwhile, Amirudin said the programme is in line with UPNM’s aim of producing students who excel academically and possess high moral values, as per the university’s motto, ‘Leaders of Character’.
He expressed hope that the programme would lead to even more closer ties in the future.
One of the aid recipients, Afizhullah Akhmal Sahak, 23, hoped that the partnership would pave the way for his sister, Nazatul Balqis, 17, to further her studies in UPNM.
Their parents died three years ago.
“My elder brother and I are now responsible for keeping our family together. We hope that this programme can help my sister further her studies in UPNM,” he said.
The family of five do not receive aid from any other agencies apart from the Social Security Organisation (Socso).