YaPIEM’s three projects offer opportunities to the disadvantaged.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Islamic Economic Development Foundation (YaPIEM) unveiled three business projects under Koperasi Santun YaPEIM Berhad namely Klinik Santun, Farmasi Santun and Koperasi Santun Vending (KS Vending) that are set to benefit the community especially in alleviating the lives of the less fortunate.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd General’im Mokhtar, who launched the projects yesterday (July 31) said through efficient cooperative business management, can help bring in profits every year which ultimately returns benefits to its members.

He said the KS Vending project could generate an estimated earning between RM1,500 and RM3,000 per month.

“So far 15 units of the vending machine have been placed at Universiti Malaya. I hope it can be expanded into showrooms, public and private educational institutions and other government agencies.

“I hope the Koperasi Santun continues to innovate using the latest ideas and introduce new products that will benefit members because the profits will be returned to them,” he said after the project’s launch ceremony here on Monday (July 31).

The Klinik Snatun project, which was also launched today, opened its first branch on Jalan Reko in Kajang and has been operating since last January.

While Farmasi Santun has been in operation since June in Puncak Jalil.

These two projects are the success stories of asnaf (underprivileged) children who received assistance from YaPEIM anak-anak Santun who are participants of the foundation’s welfare programme.

Mohd General’im said he was proud to see the achievements of the asnaf children under YaPEIM, who have managed to come out of poverty and are able to help their families.

“There was a time their parents received zakat, but Alhamdulillah, those who were trained and given entrepreneurial knowledge were finally able to develop their own businesses and come out of poverty and become zakat payers themselves,” he said.

Koperasi Santun, which was registered on Oct 18, 2011, has 5,054 members.