PERKIM’s Annual Visit Brings Contributions and Support to Converts in Arau, Kangar and Padang Besar

by: UMI MUSFIRAH ABDUL GHANI & MOHD SYAHRIL ROSDI AHMAD ZAHUDI

KANGAR, OCTOBER 3, 2025 – The Malaysian Islamic Welfare Organisation (PERKIM) National Headquarters, in collaboration with the Perlis State Chapter, has carried out a special outreach programme visiting New Muslims (Muallaf) across three parliamentary constituencies in the state, namely Arau, Kangar and Padang Besar.

The initiative, funded by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), forms part of PERKIM’s annual agenda to strengthen bonds with Muslim converts while extending both spiritual and material support.

The programme began early in the morning with a briefing by programme coordinator, Ustaz Muhammad Farhan Tee Abdullah, at the PERKIM Perlis Activity Centre in Jalan Raja Syed Saffi.

The session was followed by a doa recital led by PERKIM Perlis Executive Officer, Abdulmubeen Yanya, before volunteers and officials were divided into three groups to cover different routes and destinations. Present to lend support were PERKIM Perlis Honorary Secretary, Tuan Haji Abdul Shukor Shamsuddin, and Honorary Treasurer, Tuan Haji Mohd Arshad Daud.

Speaking about the initiative, Ustaz Farhan Tee, who also serves as PERKIM’s National Executive for Dakwah, said the programme was not only about distributing food and financial aid but also aimed at building ukhuwah, or bonds of brotherhood, while offering moral encouragement to New Muslims who often face many challenges.

The first group, led by Ustaz Farhan himself, visited the home of Hasnah Abdullah, 67, a Thai-born convert who embraced Islam in 1986. Widowed for 25 years, Hasnah has raised her three children with patience and perseverance.

The group also visited the home of Khalid Chaloemket Abdullah, 47, who converted to Islam in April this year. Khalid and his wife currently live in a makeshift wooden home converted from a goat shed on land owned by a relative.

The group continued their visits to several other Thai converts including Bonmee Chankanok Hawa Abdullah, who embraced Islam in 1988, and Juwairiyah Abdullah, 40, who converted in 2009 and now works in a food stall despite battling health issues.

Their final stop was at the home of Somboon Mookkhamsai, also known as Norazlina, a Chiang Rai-born convert who embraced Islam in 1983 and now supports her children and grandchildren by working as a cook.

The second group, led by Abdulmubeen together with PERKIM’s Deputy Finance Executive, Mohamad Azrol Mohd Azmi, also visited several muallaf families.

Among them was Juspinah Crispina from Sabah, who now lives with her 14-year-old child in a rented house paid by the baitulmal. Due to health issues, Juspinah no longer works and spends her time attending religious classes organised by PERKIM Perlis.

The group later called on Irwan Abdullah, a Siamese Muslim convert who embraced Islam in 2012. Currently unemployed, Irwan relies on monthly assistance from the baitulmal and the Social Welfare Department. Other stops included the home of single mother Siti Nur Abdullah, who runs a small food stall, and Siti Maisarah Nudaeng, also known as Nudaeng Kamphason, who is now partially paralysed.

They also visited Mohammad Hakim Lee Abaau, a new convert of less than two months who works part-time as a contractor and is due to marry next month, before concluding with a visit to Rohana Nongnut, who sustains her family by selling kuih.

The third group, led by PERKIM Assistant Executive Officer, Ustaz Haji Amran Anbarasu Abdullah, visited several other converts including Aminah Dhanam, an Indian Muslim convert in her sixties who lives alone and suffers from health problems.

They later met Noriyah Leyah, a Bidayuh convert from Sarawak who now lives in Kuala Perlis with her husband and runs a food stall in front of their home, built with assistance from the baitulmal.

The group also visited Umi Kalsom, formerly known as Koo Som Nai Deng, a Kedah-born convert who is now wheelchair-bound due to diabetes and high blood pressure. Despite her condition, she was once known as a dedicated learner of religious knowledge.

Their final stop was at the home of Pani Prani, a Thai convert with six children who now shoulders the family’s responsibilities after her husband was recently injured in an accident and is still undergoing recovery.

Throughout the programme, every family visited received basic food items such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, noodles, biscuits, canned food, beverages and other essentials, along with financial contributions as a token of care and solidarity.

The visits covered a distance of more than 40 kilometres across various villages, with the first home located about 16 kilometres from the main operations centre.

According to Abdulmubeen, the outreach effort not only alleviates the daily burdens faced by New Muslims but also strengthens their spirit and faith in their new religion.

He said that despite living with limited means, many converts remain steadfast in their beliefs, and the presence of PERKIM volunteers reassures them that they are never forgotten by the wider Muslim community.

Representatives from PERKIM National, PERKIM Perlis and volunteers with contributions gathered in front of the PERKIM Perlis Activity Centre.

Ustaz Abdulmubeen Yanya leads a doa recitation before the outreach teams depart for their respective destinations.

The outreach team led by Ustaz Farhan Tee (third from left) presenting contributions to Bonmee Chankanok Hawa Abdullah.

Ustaz Farhan Tee (left) and Ustazah Ain (right) listening to the concerns of an aid recipient in Padang Besar.

Encik Arshad (third from right) presenting contributions to Juspinah Crispina at Kampung Dalam Masjid Al Hassan.

Ustaz Abdulmubeen (centre) checking in on Saudara Irwan during the visit.