UMP honours special children

Pekan, 22 August 2020 - To enliven the Independence Month Celebration at Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), 63 special children were celebrated and received assistance in the UMP Program Prihatin organised by the UMP Foundation in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-Chancellor (PNC). 
The donation handover ceremony was presented by the UMP Chairman, Dato’ Sri Ibrahim Ahmad and UMP Foundation Chairman, Dato’ Sri Md. Sharif Shamsuddin. 
Also present were the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni), Professor Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin who is also the Deputy Chairman of the UMP Foundation.
In his speech, Dato’ Sri Md. Sharif said this time the programme celebrated children with disabilities within the community, including the children of UMP staff. 
“The UMP Foundation has now spent RM2.2 million on new students incentive for university admission funding, excellence incentive, as well as postgraduate and other scholarships that benefited the community,” he said.
“I anticipate that more people will benefit from the UMP Foundation, and we also appreciate the contributions from corporate bodies, zakat and external parties. 
“The contribution ensures more people will benefit from the UMP Foundation,” he said. 
To date, the UMP Foundation has distributed RM9,056,195.00 to 70,464 beneficiaries such as outstanding UMP students, poor students, zakat beneficiaries, B40, international students, local communities either within Pahang or Malaysia as well as the needy.
Meanwhile, Siti Hazwani Shuhaimi, 34, who serves at UMP, expressed her gratitude for the university’s contribution and concern for her family. 
“My daughter, Nur Wanie Aisyah Rahim who has been suffering from hydrocephalus and Dandy–Walker syndrome since birth is now eight years old, and she can only drink milk and listen. 
“While working, Aisyah will be taken care of by my husband, Rahim Mat Noor who is now a military retiree,” she said. 
Meanwhile, another recipient, Hafizah Mohamad Hamdan, the mother of Muhammad Adam Ayrash Abdullah who has suffered from cerebral palsy since birth, was deeply moved by the contribution given by the UMP Foundation that is always concerned with the local community. 
Her son Muhammad Adam is a student of Sekolah Kebangsaan Serandu who previously received a special wheelchair (Adam’s Chair) designed by students and a group of lecturers from the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA).
The UMP Foundation is formerly known as MyGift UMP and it was established on 1 October 2016. 
It was established to raise funds from the public, companies or institutions for the welfare of UMP students by funding educational and community programmes, and the additional learning facilities in the university.
Now, the UMP Foundation is expanding the fund’s distribution by introducing scholarships to postgraduate students to assist in the payment of tuition fees and reduce the financial burden as well as pocket money throughout the studies in the university.

By: Nor Salwana Mohd Idris, Public Relations Unit, The Office of The Vice-Chancellor
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of  Chemical and Process Engineering Technology