Maybank mobilises RM7.2m Ramadan initiative across Asean
PETALING JAYA: Maybank has rolled out its Group-wide Ramadan initiatives for the Fiscal Year 2026, targeting more than 79,000 beneficiaries across Asean through a series of community outreach programmes valued at over RM7.2 million.
A total of 161 mosques across Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines have been identified as strategic hubs for the initiatives, allowing the financial group to channel assistance to communities in need during the fasting month.
The programme brings together multiple entities within the Maybank Group, including Maybank Islamic Berhad (MIB), Etiqa Insurance & Takaful, the Group’s Staff Zakat Committee as well as operations in Singapore and Indonesia.
Maybank chairman Tan Sri Ir Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said the Ramadan initiatives proved the group’s commitment to social responsibility beyond its core financial services.
“Through our Group-wide Ramadhan efforts, we are reminded that our responsibilities extend beyond our business objectives. It also reaffirms our duty as an organisation in fulfilling our Islamic responsibilities and stewardship,” he said in a statement.
He said that the initiatives align with Maybank’s ROAR30 strategy, which prioritise long-term value creation through social impact and community empowerment.
“Guided by our ROAR30 strategy, we remain committed to making a meaningful difference by impacting lives positively, strengthening communities and advancing social empowerment,” he added.
Zamzamzairani also pointed out that sustainable growth must go hand in hand with inclusivity.
“At the heart of our purpose of humanising financial services, we believe that sustainable growth must be in tandem with inclusive prosperity. Therefore, we remain steadfast in using our resources, expertise and relationships to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.”
The group’s regional efforts began with MIB’s annual Regional Ramadan Relief (RRR) programme, which spans 13 countries and provides food assistance to 12,546 underprivileged families.
In Malaysia, the initiative saw 80 economically vulnerable families in Alor Setar, Kedah receiving food boxes, bringing the total number of beneficiaries in the state to 780 families to date.
MIB is also implementing its Salam Festival programme, which features two key initiatives – Salam Iftar Perdana and Salam Syawal Open House.
Salam Iftar Perdana focuses on distributing iftar meals and providing financial assistance to asnaf and underprivileged communities at selected mosques, while Salam Syawal Open House encourages social interaction among local communities, including non-Muslims, in conjunction with Hari Raya celebrations.
Overall, the Salam Festival programme is expected to benefit 35,985 individuals in Malaysia.
Regionally, similar efforts are being carried out in neighbouring countries. In Indonesia, about 18,000 underprivileged individuals and families are receiving support through meal distribution programmes and Syawal community engagement activities.
In Singapore, outreach initiatives have reached 1,850 beneficiaries, including lower-income families, while in the Philippines, around 850 individuals from underserved Muslim communities are receiving Ramadan assistance and participating in Syawal gatherings.
Etiqa Insurance & Takaful has also launched its Kasih Ramadhan initiative, which will benefit 1,020 individuals by providing essential household necessities to help ease cost-of-living pressures.
In addition, the upcoming Etiqa Soup Kitchen programme will support 600 beneficiaries in urban communities through meal distribution activities in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur.
Separately, Etiqa will also host an iftar session for 50 children from a local orphanage, alongside several other community programmes involving orphans and asnaf groups.
The Maybank Staff Zakat Committee is also involved a range of welfare initiatives, including religious outreach programmes such as Mufti Bersama Masyarakat, which will provide direct engagement with a mufti for about 2,650 individuals comprising Maybank staff and members of the public.
The committee has also organised festive initiatives such as Shopping Raya and Iftar Perdana, which will benefit 120 orphans and asnaf recipients.
Several zakat-based assistance programmes have also been introduced to support employees, including back-to-school aid for 293 staff and their children, financial support for higher education expenses involving 24 staff members and medical assistance for employees facing critical health challenges.
Additional support will also be extended to Maybank security personnel and cleaning staff facing financial hardship.
In line with its ROAR30 strategy, Maybank aims to scale up its social empowerment initiatives with a target of delivering up to RM100 million in positive impact by 2030, reinforcing its sustainability-driven approach to inclusive growth and community development.
The Sun Malaysia
