KUALA NERUS – Eating scrumptious meal, performing prayers in congregation, and listening to religious talk. These are what some 3000 low-income UMT students have been able to do during this year’s Ramadhan.

Sultan Mahmud Islamic Centre Director Dr Riswadi Azmi said that this free meal for breaking fast started in 2015, where 300 students were the recipients then. 

According to Dr Riswadi, this act of kindness is funded by donations from the university community, the local community, corporations, private companies, and caring individuals.

“Praise Be to Allah, since 2015, the donation has kept coming in, and we’ve been able to include more students into the programme. In fact, beginning 1 Ramadhan, we have prepared free meal for breaking fast for 800 students daily,” said Dr Riswadi to Bernama today.  

The donation for the free meal for this Ramadhan is expected to reach RM100,000 compared to RM80,000 for last year’s, as more students in their final semester of study are facing financial problems. 

UMT also invites less fortunate community from the nearby areas and families of the students to break the fast together and perform prayers at the centre to make this year’s Ramadhan more meaningful to all. 

To enable families to perform prayers in peace, the centre also provides temporary childcare which is managed by UMT students.

“We welcome the public to join us and celebrate Ramadhan together at the university so that the bond between the students and the community is always maintained,’ Dr Riswadi said.