KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Independence must be appreciated as a shared responsibility to ensure the country’s peace, unity and harmony continue to be preserved, said Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
She said independence was more than just shouting “Merdeka” and flying the Jalur Gemilang, as it carried a deeper meaning, symbolising the freedom, sacrifices and struggles of previous generations in building a sovereign nation.
“Let us turn the independence celebration into a platform for appreciating the meaning of freedom, honouring the sacrifices of past generations and continuing to build a united, prosperous and progressive Bandar Tun Razak community,” she said.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the Bandar Tun Razak Member of Parliament, said this when speaking at the Semarak Merdeka Programme, which was also attended by the Prime Minister’s political secretary Datuk Azman Abidin.
She said this year’s National Day theme, “Malaysia Madani: Jiwa Merdeka”, was in line with efforts to improve the people’s quality of life, provide equal opportunities and strengthen unity.
Dr Wan Azizah described Bandar Tun Razak’s diverse population of about 191,000 residents, comprising 60 per cent Malays, 24 per cent Chinese and eight per cent Indians, as a reflection of a dynamic and harmonious community, citing data from the Malaysian Population and Housing Census.
After the programme, Dr Wan Azizah visited three families at the Seri Pulau Pinang and Desa Tun Razak People’s Housing Projects (PPR) to hand over contributions from the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP).
One of the recipients, K. Moganavalli, 39, expressed her gratitude for the assistance, which came after her husband, Edwin Anthony Dass, 38, died suddenly on Aug 2, leaving her to care for their three young children.
“I am a full-time housewife. When my husband, who previously worked as a lorry and Grab driver, passed away, I felt lost. I am truly grateful for this assistance,” she told Bernama.
Moganavalli received a one-off Funeral Management Benefit of RM3,000 and a monthly Survivor’s Pension of RM1,118.33 from PERKESO, in addition to the Kotak Prihatin aid.
Another recipient, Khalijah Binti Nazir, 64, is a single mother who had to quit her job to care for her two children, one of whom has a hearing impairment.
She receives RM800 per month in Baitulmal assistance, as well as RM300 monthly via the Boost eWallet and RM150 under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), with RM100 per month in SARA assistance provided to her son.
“Let us turn the independence celebration into a platform for appreciating the meaning of freedom, honouring the sacrifices of past generations and continuing to build a united, prosperous and progressive Bandar Tun Razak community,” she said.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the Bandar Tun Razak Member of Parliament, said this when speaking at the Semarak Merdeka Programme, which was also attended by the Prime Minister’s political secretary Datuk Azman Abidin.
She said this year’s National Day theme, “Malaysia Madani: Jiwa Merdeka”, was in line with efforts to improve the people’s quality of life, provide equal opportunities and strengthen unity.
Dr Wan Azizah described Bandar Tun Razak’s diverse population of about 191,000 residents, comprising 60 per cent Malays, 24 per cent Chinese and eight per cent Indians, as a reflection of a dynamic and harmonious community, citing data from the Malaysian Population and Housing Census.
After the programme, Dr Wan Azizah visited three families at the Seri Pulau Pinang and Desa Tun Razak People’s Housing Projects (PPR) to hand over contributions from the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP).
One of the recipients, K. Moganavalli, 39, expressed her gratitude for the assistance, which came after her husband, Edwin Anthony Dass, 38, died suddenly on Aug 2, leaving her to care for their three young children.
“I am a full-time housewife. When my husband, who previously worked as a lorry and Grab driver, passed away, I felt lost. I am truly grateful for this assistance,” she told Bernama.
Moganavalli received a one-off Funeral Management Benefit of RM3,000 and a monthly Survivor’s Pension of RM1,118.33 from PERKESO, in addition to the Kotak Prihatin aid.
Another recipient, Khalijah Binti Nazir, 64, is a single mother who had to quit her job to care for her two children, one of whom has a hearing impairment.
She receives RM800 per month in Baitulmal assistance, as well as RM300 monthly via the Boost eWallet and RM150 under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), with RM100 per month in SARA assistance provided to her son.