Sultan Muhammad V arrives at the Yayasan Sultan Kelantan launch.
The recently established Yayasan Sultan Kelantan raised more than RM4 million (RM4,281,200) at its inaugural charity fundraising dinner held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Saturday.
In his speech, Yayasan Sultan Kelantan Board of Trustees chairman Datuk Seri Haji Mohd Aiseri Alias said charitable acts are not meant to be from the government alone, rather, it should be a citizen’s responsibility, especially those who are wealthy.
“Poverty and strife are difficulties which we hear about every day and concerted efforts from all parties are needed to overcome them,” he said.
The foundation will be using its funds throughout this year to provide financial aid to poor students, as well as medical equipment such as hearing aids and wheelchairs for the needy and haemodialysis machines to selected hospitals.
The largest sum donated was from the Kelantan government, which donated RM500,000, while Kelantan Golden Trade Sdn Bhd and PMBK Sawit Sdn Bhd donated RM300,000. Many other corporate organisations also donated between RM10,000 and RM200,000, including Berjaya Corporation Berhad, which donated RM100,000.
The dinner was also attended by Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat.
A Proton Persona with the number plate DBV5 was also auctioned that night, and was finally sold for RM150,000. Guests were entertained by Kelantan cultural performances such as the wayang kulit during dinner.
The fund-raising dinner also marked the official launch of the foundation, which was conceived in October 2010. The foundation was founded personally by Sultan Muhammad V, to ensure that the divide between rural and urban citizens of Kelantan is minimised, and to uplift the living standards of his people. It also aims at providing financial assistance to students for a more educated nation.
To this end, the sultan decided that the foundation be a major driving force towards welfare efforts, whether in or out of Kelantan.
The foundation aims to raise RM6 million throughout the year, and the money will be used to fund welfare work namely in contributions of school uniforms to poor students, financial aid to the hardcore poor and single mothers, aid to cottage industries, haemodialysis machines to selected hospitals.
