Masaat (third right) receives the donation from Nik Nazmi as Ramze (second right), Abdul Rafidin (fourth right) and others look on.
SIBU: Selling rambutan at RM1.50 for two kilogrammes and jackfruit from RM4 per fruit depending on size to raise funds for the rebuilding of a surau is a noble thing to do.
But Surau Darul Abrar Development Committee would have a long way to go to reach their target of RM250,000 for the rebuilding fund if they just depend on the sale of the fruits.
Surau Darul Abrar Development Committee secretary Ramze Ibrahim said the fruits collected from the orchard of committee chairman Masaat Bujang are sold at a makeshift structure near a junction in Kampung Datu/Kampung Hilir here.
“We started collection for the fund last month. We have not calculated the amount we have collected so far.
“There is no budget from the government for the rebuilding, that is why we started the fund collection,” he said when met by reporters at the site of the burnt surau in Kampung Datu here yesterday.
He was there to witness the presentation of donation from Selangor State Legislative Assembly deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad to Masaat.
Also present were the surau committee treasurer Roslan Mohd Alwi and PKR Nangka representative Abdul Rafidin Majidi.
Fire razed more than 60 houses and the surau in Kampung Datu/Kampung Hilir on June 19 last year.
The incident had left 597 people from 144 families homeless.
Ramze later thanked Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee and Assistant Housing Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah for their personal donations for the surau.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rafidin urged the state government to declare the total amount of donations for Kampung Datu/Kampung Hilir fire victims.
He said so far the affected families had only received donations worth RM15,000 per family.
“We want to know the exact amount because from what we heard the donations have reached millions of ringgit. If there is such amount, we want it to be distributed to the victims as soon as possible,” he said.