PUTRAJAYA, April 15 — Thirteen strategic partners of Yayasan Kebajikan Negara (YKN) today presented their sponsorships to the foundation and signed fresh Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with it.

With support from these strategic partners, YKN has successfully established five Anjung Singgah, six YKN dialysis centres and 10 Anjung Kasih throughout the country to offer direct services to people in need.

During the ceremony at Dewan Perdana Nur, Deputy Prime Minister and Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, lauded the strategic partners for their support of the foundation’s efforts.

"A total of 13 YKN strategic partners that consist of government-linked corporations (GLC), corporate companies, higher education institutes, government agencies, monetary agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and individuals concerned about problems faced by people in need have worked together with YKN.

"The collaboration that has formed between YKN and its strategic partners will be able to empower the community to increase the quality of life of YKN’s target group, especially those who are less fortunate,” said Dr Wan Azizah who is chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees.

Among the partners, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) offered RM2.3 million in 2018 and 2019 to establish Anjung Kasih at Serdang Hospital and Melaka Hospital, respectively.

Petronas contributed RM1 million to set up an Anjung Kasih at Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan, Sabah.

Majlis Agama Islam Dan Adat Istiadat Tradisi Terengganu (MAIDAM) sponsored RM187,200 for YKN’s dialysis centre in Terengganu for patients who require dialysis treatment.

Permodalan Darul Ta’zim also sponsored RM100,000 to establish an Anjung Singgah in Johor Baru.

Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad and D’Herbs Holding Sdn Bhd offered RM100,000 and RM30,000 respectively.

Partners who signed MoU in collaboration with YKN’s services and projects in their respective areas include Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM), Street Book Chowkit, YKN Medic Nur, Komited Malaysia @ Drug Intervention Community Malaysia and Permodalan Darul Ta’zim.

Dr Wan Azizah also pointed out that up till January this year, a total of 62,551 people from across the country have benefited from YKN’s Anjung Kasih.

She also mentioned that out of the 7,047 homeless people who have stayed at YKN’s Anjung Singgah, 73 per cent have landed jobs and been able to successfully integrate with their communities.

The purpose of Anjung Kasih is to provide temporary accommodation for families of patients who require treatment at hospitals.

Anjung Singgah, on the other hand, runs social service centres intended to curb homelessness while YKN dialysis treatment centres are conceptualised to be family-friendly.