For the past six years, Masjid Jamek Sungai Gelugor has provided one-off cash aid for those who have been admitted to a first-degree course at a public university.

Pupils who obtain straight A’s in the primary and secondary school public exminations can also look forward to a cash gift.

In addition, the mosque gives out RM5 pocket money to pupils who come for morning prayers before going to school.

The mosque programme began when parents in the community, who are mainly from the urban poor, approached mosque officials for financial help.

“We have people who come to us and say that their child got places in university but they have no money to be given to their children (on their enrolment day). So that is when the programme started,” said Khairul Mohd Ali, 35, the youth bureau chief of the mosque committee.

Assistant treasurer Zainol Amil, 49, said the educational charity work was started by the late Nasir Yahaya, the mosque’s treasurer.

The programme was initially for the asnaf community (those eligible for zakat) from the B40 low-income group, and was later extended to those in the M40 middle-income community.

New undergraduate students have received one-off aid of RM300 since 2016, or a total of RM18,000 in gifts to 60 students.

Primary and secondary school students are also eligible for cash gifts for obtaining straight A’s at the Standard Six UPSR, Form Three PMR, Form Five SPM and Form Six STPM and STAM public examinations.

The amount ranges from RM50 to RM100, RM150 and RM200. “More than 360 people have benefited from this programme to date. In 2021 alone, 31 students benefited from the cash gift programme” Zainol said.

RM5 pocket money

Since 2018, the mosque has been giving out RM5 pocket money to schoolchildren who come for morning prayers before going to school.

“When the programme first began, 400 pupils received pocket money in the first month alone. Now, around 20 to 25 schoolchildren would receive this pocket money every day.

“Around 5,000 students benefited from this programme per year,” he said.

The money comes from public donations and individual contributions. “The money given by the community is given back to the community,” Khairul said.

Zainol said the pocket money initiative has led to more people coming for morning prayers as parents accompany their children.

“This programme in a way has motivated more people to come to the mosque,” said the chief administrative staff of a secondary school.

Khairul said donations have been reduced since the Covid-19 movement control order was imposed. “We would like to get financial support from the public to keep this aid programme going.”

Those who would like to donate to the mosque can make deposits into Bank Muamalat account number 0703 0000 146714 (Masjid Jamek Sungai Gelugor).