What a year it has been...!

2011 has been a very meaningful and fruitful year for PERKAS.  In a very short time, PERKAS has managed to do the following with a handful of volunteers and limited sponsorship:

1. Secured sponsorship to hire 2 Ustaz (both Al-Azhar graduates) to run Islamic classes since 25th April 2011 for FREE at the Al Falah surau in Pos Betau, K.Lipis, at the request of the Muslim community there. They never had one since the country gained Independence in 1957! More than 28 free classes were conducted last year.

The 1st class started in April 2011 and has continued until today

2. Taught more than 50 Semai about Islam, while having to turn down a request from a Primary school to teach them too. Insyallah, we will try to raise funds for this group this year.

3. Secured sponsorship to feed them with halal breakfast and lunch every week after classes since April.

Halal breakfast and lunch was served every week, prepared fresh by Ecolife Basecamp

4. Managed to get the support of Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to help refurbish the run-down Pos Betau surau and equipped it with PA system.

The government assisted with the refurbishment of the Al Falah Surau

5. Secured sponsorship to teach the Semai about Haji and ran a free intensive lessons for them.

6. Secured sponsorship to send 4 of them to perform the Haji - a first for the Semai community in Pos Betau since Independence.

Off to perform the Haj

8. Organised their 1st ever breaking of fast for the Semai community for the whole month of Ramdhan thru' the sponsorship of ANGKASA.

Breaking of fast with the Semai

Terawih prayers were held for the 1st time ever for the Semai Muslim community

9. Gave away Hari Raya money during the month of Ramadan, courtesy of Masjid Taman Melawati, K.L.

Raya packets for the Semai

10. Distributed countless used clothes, books, bags, shoes and crockery sets  to the Semai community since April, and has continued until today.

Used clothes for the Semai

11. Distributed free sarongs, mini telekongs, prayer mats, copies of the Holy Quran and Yassin from well wishers.

12. Managed to secure a permanent Muslim burial plot for the community from the State Government.

13. Managed to teach the Semai the basic skills in soap making with  the help of Sunway College.

Soap making class

14. Sponsored 6 of the Semai to learn the finer trade of Tapioca Chip making in Sepang - thanks to FAMA.

At the Tapioca Chip factory, Sepang

UKM student program

Students trying the blowpipe

15. Attract various visitors to the place, including Universities and government departments , as another tourist destination with its various attractions such as Sewang dance, cooking demo, blow pipe shows, fishing and bamboo rafting.

Sewang ritual dance

16.Helped organise and distribute business grants to the Semai community with the help of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

Recepients of the 1AZAM Grants

17. Arranged a visit to Pos Betau for the motorbike brigade of the Malaysian Police Force's Community Policing programme.

Pahang Chief Police astride his 1300cc bike, leading the convoy

18. Helped produced a TV documentary for TV Hijrah (aired twice this year).

19. Helped initiate a Cooperative movement for the Semai - KOBETAU

The 1st meeting organised by ANGKASA which played a leading role in getting the Coop moving

This year will see more development at Pos Betau with the involvement of FAMA, a university cooperative movement among others, that will see further progress of the place, insyallah.