PETALING JAYA, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK) aims to help as many as 200 families of the hardcore poor, poor and asnaf in this country through the Sinar Kasih Ramadan (SKR) programme which will be implemented in the upcoming Ramadan month.

Programme chairperson Datin Dr Hartini Osman said the number of recipients had increased compared with last year with a total of 156 families successfully assisted.

She said that each selected family will receive one-off cash assistance amounting to RM600 to cover the expenses for breaking the fast and sahur (pre-dawn meal) during Ramadan month, which is scheduled to be observed by Muslims in March.

“Each piece of information or data of these selected families is obtained from the school, community leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Each information or data received will first be examined for eligibility before being listed to receive this assistance,

“This year, (those) who applied (were) more than 1,000 families. We will screen them and if there is excess (aid money), then we can help more than 200 families," she told reporters after the launch of the SKR today.

Hartini said that thus far, a total of 3,927 families have received benefits through the programme which is now in its 16th year since it was first implemented in 2008.

In the meantime, she hoped that more individuals, NGOs and corporate bodies to come forward to donate to help ease the burden of the needy during the Ramadan month.

-- BERNAMA