In the same vein that the strongest steel is forged by the hottest fires, we have found that strength is often an unexpected byproduct of adversity.
This is something we at Yayasan Hasanah bore witness to time and time again throughout 2021.
Amidst the continuing battle against COVID-19 and still reeling from the adverse socio–economic impacts of the pandemic, major floods then caused many to suffer great loss later in the year.
Yet, as we worked with more partners and vulnerable communities, we quickly saw a pattern emerge — where there was difficulty, there was also immense fortitude. The stories of fortitude featured in The Hasanah Report 2021 are only the tip of the iceberg.
On the list of things that make a great nation, the strength of its people ranks highly, if not in the top spot. And so, we believe that the stepping stones to advance Malaysia to its fullest potential lie in empowering her people, one person at a time, across all layers of society.
This is what we saw in 2021. The theme Strength in Adversity or Cekal Mengharungi Cabaran truly encapsulates the year that was for Hasanah, our partners and vulnerable communities alike.
The people we assisted represented all layers of vulnerable Malaysian society — women, youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, Orang Asal, refugees, undocumented communities, children, B40 communities, farmers in rural areas and the urban poor.
Yayasan Hasanah (Hasanah), the foundation of Khazanah Nasional was born on 1st July 2015 as an independent grant-making foundation, following nine years of corporate social responsibility efforts previously driven by Khazanah Nasional (Khazanah).
In Arabic, Hasanah means “doing good” or “good deeds” and despite our primary grant-making role, we believe in going beyond dollars and cents by working towards the bigger picture of facilitating an entire ecosystem of transformation.
Similar to Khazanah’s purpose of advancing Malaysia by investing to deliver sustainable value for Malaysians, Hasanah invests in people, who are the building blocks of a nation.
Through which we aim to be a convenor, collaborator, and catalyst of change.
While each impact area has its respective vision, our overarching vision is to build a socially cohesive Malaysia by empowering people, conserving the environment and the arts.
We recognise that building a greater, globally competitive Malaysia does not happen by working in silos. Therefore, we believe in the power of “We” and will continuously champion collective and collaborative actions in the ecosystem.
From national crises response to fulfilling pre-established priorities — and balancing everything in between — it was a challenging year for Hasanah. While impact in our line of work isn’t always solely measurable by numbers and figures, the information below represents our significantly accelerated and widened reach in 2021, made possible by successful partnerships and collaboration models.
Famed Superman actor Christopher Reeves in his autobiography Still Me defined a hero as “an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”.
The team traveled to various locations to speak with the people we assisted. Here are some of our Hasanah Heroes and their stories of strength.
Established in 2013 through the Putrajaya Committee for GLC High Performance (PCG) with Khazanah Nasional as its secretariat, the Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLIC) and Government-Linked Companies (GLC) Disaster Response Network (GDRN) coordinates among itself humanitarian aid to the nation in times of dire need.
GDRN is helmed by Yayasan Hasanah and Yayasan TM as joint-secretariat. Up until 2020, GDRN’s primary scope of operations was flood relief during the monsoon season, which often led to thousands of lives displaced and homes destroyed.
When the COVID-19 pandemic took the nation by storm, Malaysia was faced with an unprecedented disaster. In response, a collaboration framework was developed to streamline and coordinate contributions from GLICs and GLCs, to avoid redundancy of efforts and optimise resources.
Through the GDRN, 2021 saw over RM207.2 million in funding channelled to help communities affected by the pandemic and later in the year, the massive and sudden floods in December.
For the former, aid was in the form of food as well as medical equipment such as oximeters, oxygen concentrators and ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitisers and vaccination programmes.
Meanwhile, flood-related assistance included, cleaning kits, food, telecommunication and electricity services, logistics and transportation (such as 4WDs, lorries, boats, helicopters, RoRos and backhoes), generators, home equipment, psychological first aid, cash and medical assistance for animals.
All these were made possible by 39 GLICs/GLCs coming together with 417 implementing partners and 4,156 volunteers to assist 310,698 people whose lives were affected by the ongoing pandemic and 79,389 flood survivors.
Partners included government agencies, uniform bodies, district offices and departments, and NGOs.
The people assisted were made up of B40 communities, persons with disabilities, refugees, the elderly, medical staff, vulnerable women and children, Orang Asal, COVID-19 patients; not forgetting animals that were also affected by the floods. GDRN was later reintroduced as “GLC Demi Rakyat & Negara” in March 2022, along with a new strategy to expand its role in social impact coordination among GLICs and GLCs.
When the COVID-19 pandemic caused schools to be suspended, the shift from traditional classroom learning to online lessons had to happen very quickly. For 4.9 million students nationwide, school as they knew it rapidly changed.
However, as efforts to digitalise classes were underway, a severe inequality quickly revealed itself. Access to online education platforms and implementation of online learning proved to be a challenge, particularly for low-income households with low device ownership.
To address the digital learning gap for approximately 150,000 students in primary and secondary schools in Malaysia and to pilot digital learning models for future adoption, a corporate responsibility initiative called CERDIK was announced in Budget 2021, driven by Government Linked Companies (GLCs) and Government Linked Investment Companies (GLICs).
As a testament to the power of collaborative effort, 32 GLICs, GLCs and corporate organisations came together in this pilot initiative to contribute digital devices complete with data connectivity, which were then distributed to 1,322 schools across the country.
Major participating companies were Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Permodalan Nasional Berhad, Yayasan PETRONAS, Employees Provident Fund and their respective group of companies, with further support rendered by other GLCs and corporate organisations.
Surpassing its initial target, CERDIK bridged the learning gap for a total of 151,986 students from B40 backgrounds, students who would otherwise lack access to a suitable device for online learning. As a result, these students were able to continue their lessons and connect with their peers and teachers during home-based teaching and learning.
In view of the pandemic’s persisting effects on public health, food systems and the world of work, PRIHATIN (Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi Prihatin Rakyat) — first unveiled on 27 March 2020 — carried on into 2021.
Under PRIHATIN, the Ministry of Finance partnered with Hasanah for the Hasanah Special Grant 2021 (HSG 2021), allocating a matching grant of RM25 million to enable expanded reach to more vulnerable communities via grants and social initiatives.
The intent of HSG 2021 is to improve the quality of life of people from underprivileged and marginalised segments of the community through various interventions — lending a helping hand to recover from the pandemic and ultimately building resilience in times of tribulation.
All these are made possible by scaling-up high-performing projects from the previous year’s Hasanah Special Grant. The fruitful partnerships between Hasanah and the civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and social enterprises involved were revisited to once again extend assistance through rapid mobilisation of resources.
For HSG 2021, 40 projects worth RM22,887,700 were approved for disbursement to benefit 37,600 individuals from target groups spanning across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. This included B40 communities, Orang Asal, the elderly, the homeless, refugees, undocumented migrants, at-risk children, women and youth, and persons with special needs.
With tenures ranging between 12 to 24 months, the majority of projects were livelihood-driven while other important areas covered were food aid, education, health and wellbeing, and animal welfare.
The diverse list of projects ranges from enhancing the skills of Orang Asal as eco-guides, sustainable bamboo harvesters and patrollers or stewards protecting tiger habitats, to basic education and better income from tuna fishing for the undocumented and stateless community in Sabah, and vaccination, medication and food for sun bears, stray cats and dogs.
Since the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic, the nation has undergone multiple movement control orders and restrictions. Though intended to curb infection and the spread of the virus, for many, loss of income and unemployment has been the hefty price to pay.
On 18 January 2021, Malaysia’s Prime Minister announced the launch of PERMAI (Pakej Bantuan Perlindungan Ekonomi & Rakyat Malaysia), a government assistance package to help alleviate the impact of the pandemic shouldered by the rakyat and business communities.
Valued at RM15 billion and comprising a total of 22 initiatives, PERMAI anchors upon three objectives — combating the COVID-19 outbreak, safeguarding the welfare of the people and supporting business continuity.
Under Initiative 6: Strengthening Welfare Programmes, RM25 million was allocated by the government towards the Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLIC) and the Government-Linked Companies (GLC) Disaster Response Network (GDRN) as a matching grant to the funding provided by GLICs/GLCs for social initiatives.
From the RM25 million, RM16.5 million was disbursed to eight GLCs/GLC Foundations, namely Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB), Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Maybank Foundation, Yayasan YUEM, Telekom Malaysia (TM), Yayasan Hasanah, Celcom and Yayasan Sime Darby.
To further PERMAI’s second objective of safeguarding the welfare of the people, the funds enabled the companies and foundations to reach out to a total of 199,988 recipients nationwide via their 206 partner NGOs on the ground (including 25 schools).
Aid was distributed in the form of family food baskets, individual food packs, hygiene kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectants, infant needs and schooling supplies, all of which provided the vulnerable communities with much-needed and immediate relief and support.
With the repercussions of the pandemic engulfing the nation’s economy, the heat of that fire was strongly felt in many households. Income loss has had a direct and dire correlation to their ability to meet fundamental needs.
To boost recovery amidst the challenging economic landscape, PEMERKASA (Program Strategik Memperkasa Rakyat dan Ekonomi) — worth RM20 billion — was launched by the Malaysian government on 17th March 2021, along with a new fiscal injection amounting to RM11 billion.
One programme under its Inisiatif 16: Menambahbaik Program Bantuan Rentan Bandar addressed basic food needs with an allocation of RM100 million. The funds were distributed through MyKasih Foundation’s innovative cashless food aid system utilising the innovative MyKad technology.
The pilot programme, conducted by MyKasih and overseen by Hasanah as project manager, targeted poor and hardcore poor families from urban areas registered under eKasih as well as other government welfare based databases.
For three months, each Prihatin Kasih beneficiary received RM100 monthly, credited in their MyKad to buy rations from appointed partner merchant stores. Being able to choose what they individually needed from a range of approved food categories (such as rice, eggs, cooking oil, noodles, flour, seasonings, canned food, bread, biscuits and beverages) thus avoided wastage.
Highly supportive merchant and NGO partners were instrumental in the programme’s successful execution. The former ran in-store campaigns parallel with the Prihatin Kasih programme, giving MyKasih shoppers more bang for their buck. Meanwhile, the latter did legwork in collating a list of eligible recipients; 25% of the programme’s total recipients came from their efforts.
Implemented from July till December, the programme eased household expenses for 137,273 recipients nationwide, with RM44,007,608 disbursed to ensure basic food needs did not go unmet.
Aimed at supporting and promoting the country’s arts and cultural scene, CIMB Group, the Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA) and Hasanah jointly launched a public-private tripartite, also known as TripART, in early November.
In the spirit of collaboration and combined with a love for the arts, each organisation brought to the table campaigns they were spearheading; namely CIMB’s Artober, CENDANA’s Art In The City and Yayasan Hasanah’s ArtsFAS.
TripART was conceptualised to enable both the public and private sectors to effectively collaborate to support local artists, performers and craftsmen within the marketplace, thus strengthening the economic viability of the local arts and cultural ecosystem.
The collaboration — developed in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) #8 (Promoting inclusive and sustainable growth), #10 (Reducing inequalities) and #11 (Creating sustainable cities and communities) — was launched at CIMB’s Artober Hotel Art Fair 2021.
The Art Fair displayed artworks and handicrafts created by artists who received support from CIMB Foundation and its partners, CENDANA and Hasanah.
During the launch ceremony, guests were entertained with a sitar recital by Kumar Karthigesu of The Temple of Fine Arts, a traditional gurindam recitation by YB Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi, a performance by ArtsFAS partner and award-winning ensemble HANDS Percussion, inspiring remarks by renowned local artist Hamir Soib and a surprise performance of Tudung Periuk by Malaysian songstress Dayang Nurfaizah.
Knowledge is power — but only with proper application and understanding. Hence, we believe that continuous learning is essential and there should be no barriers to learning. Besides strengthening institutions, systems and the capacities of individuals, Hasanah aims to support the development of sound policies and plans that give rise to the positive change that our communities truly need.
Through world class research, we strive to formulate more well-informed policies and more effective initiatives.
What began as a presentation of one of Hasanah’s previous projects to the DYMM Sultan Nazrin Shah led to the idea of developing the Perak Sustainable Development Model.
Through research and multiple stakeholder engagements, this report aims to serve as a baseline for environmental information in Perak, a state that’s home to an abundance of valuable ancient forests and therefore, natural biodiversity.
While strengthening its voice in environmental protection and complementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the contents of this report will allow Hasanah to pinpoint, draw on and carry out programmes in its own strength and capacity.
The report’s main objective is to formulate a masterplan for the sustainable development of Perak, which would then enable Hasanah and its partners to streamline and prioritise its investment in the state to deliver optimal outcomes in line with environmental and social well-being.
A critical component of the report is a preliminary inventory of stakeholder initiatives that gauge existing focus areas before proposing a sustainability framework which will streamline the efforts by the various stakeholders, particularly between government and non-governmental organisations.
While the report is a testament of the many strong conservation efforts present at state-level, it is just as important that its recommended measures are taken in order to prove the serious commitment to address pressing and long-standing issues like deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, pollution and urban overdevelopment.
The proposed framework consists of five thrusts that touch on greening the economy, creating responsible and empowered communities, conserving nature, building resilience against climate change and disasters, and practicing good environmental governance.
Responsible plastic management is one of the primary concerns under Hasanah’s Environment focus area. This study was carried out to gain insight, gather on-the-ground input and make recommendations in line with the aim to develop a clear and responsible plastics use agenda for Malaysia.
Ironically, despite government initiatives such as restrictions on some single use plastic items, mandatory replacement of plastics with degradable types, voluntary reduction and imposition of pollution charges, the waste management authority recently reported that the plastic waste composition in landfills has increased by 24% (up from 13% to 15% in the past decade).
This means that thousands of tonnes of plastic waste are being discarded throughout the country every day, in addition to other unknown leakages into the environment through littering, illegal dumping, and improper waste collection and disposal practices.
As alarming as this may sound, the report also finds that the statistics of plastic waste generation and recycling rates differ significantly between agencies such as the World Bank, the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Cooperation (SWCorp), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD).
Due to fragmentation or lack of data, instances of double-counting and misleading facts, the actual amount of plastic waste being recycled in both formal and informal sectors remains unknown.
The reality is that plastics are going to stay in our daily lives. So, the real challenge is to figure out how we can live with it in a harmonious and sustainable manner, with necessary legal and economic instruments in place to keep the adverse impacts at a minimum.
To achieve this, the report proposes interventions by four target groups; namely the government, manufacturers, recycling players, and in addition, a few particular initiatives for the Khazanah Group of Companies, in view of their corporate role and responsibilities to tackle plastic waste issues.
The socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed pre-existing gaps in Malaysia’s social protection system.
This report recommends practical, equitable and sustainable policy proposals that are built upon existing social services — such as public healthcare, social housing and the education system — based on a life-cycle approach.
Advocating an inclusive and forward-looking approach to prevent poverty and address vulnerability, the report’s recommendations emphasise a universal provision of social protections against major risks at each stage of everyone’s life.
The report proposes a universal child benefit scheme in order to prevent the risk of any child being left behind during their inherently vulnerable, highly dependant and important stage of cognitive, physical and social development. Registering all children into this scheme would enable other needs-specific interventions to be better designed and ensure their inclusion in other social protection schemes when they enter the working and old age.
As for working-age adults, the report calls for expansion in the mandatory coverage of existing formal social insurance schemes against the risks of work injury, invalidity and joblessness, as well as the introduction of a maternity income security scheme under the purview of the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO).
For the next stage of life, the report brings up the critical need for a universal social pension to provide basic old-age income security. Similar to the proposal for social security applied to residual working-age subgroups — such as homemakers, unemployed individuals and workers with informal and non-standard employment — a tripartite agreement is recommended here, where the government contributes to the costs on top of contributions from workers and employers.
This series of knowledge-sharing events is planned for our civil society partner organisations, stakeholders as well as the public. Led by sectoral experts, the sessions cover a plethora of topics beneficial to the relevant groups.
9 February 2021
The panellists — through examples of their work — urged others to consider CVA as a method to deliver aid, which reduces the cost and time spent, and is more traceable and transparent, hence mitigating the risk of funds abuse. However, there are instances where CVA may not be viable, for example in a protracted crisis area where resources are scarce, giving cash aid may trigger safety issues or disaster situations.
The overarching message of the session was that dignity is crucial in all aspects of giving. Offering choice not only gives the people we assist more power and control over their lives, but also has a direct impact on reducing wastage — all of which can be accomplished by implementing CVA.
Among the solutions that may facilitate the adoption of CVA include setting up a cash coalition in Malaysia, linking it with the social protection system and developing the aid organisation’s capacity to understand the need to shift from giving in-kind donations to cash.
20 April 2021
This webinar conducted by Pam Guneratnam, a psychologist, and Ajim Juxta, an artist, aimed to enlighten attendees about how the arts can be a tool to calm the mind and combat depression or loneliness. The two speakers shared their experiences of using art as a coping mechanism, more so during the extended period of isolation resulting from the pandemic.
Besides the role of the arts to address mental health issues and overall well-being, other key takeaways from this session included the impact of the pandemic on all levels of society including the arts community.
8 June 2021
This panel discussion sought to recognise, uncover and learn about a few unconventional individuals who do not hail from the world of environmental conservation, and yet have a strong sense of obligation to support and champion the protection of Malaysia’s biodiversity.
The key message put forth was that protecting the environment is not the responsibility of environmentalists and conservationists alone. There are many individuals from different walks of life venturing to carry out conservation activities on their own time and dime. This session taught us about what drives and inspires them to be advocates, as well as the environmental conservation causes they feel strongly about.
29 July 2021
This session focused on issues related to the digital economy, particularly digital platform work.
Through sharing of research findings and experiences with the digital platform economy in Malaysia, speakers discussed the changes that could benefit workers in this economy, as well as the challenges in providing safety nets and skills development to said workers.
The webinar aimed to provide attendees with a broader perspective of how digital work shapes the national labour policy, as well as the measures taken by the government and non-government bodies to ensure equitable opportunities and protections for all workers in this economy.
30 September 2021
In conjunction with the Hari Merdeka theme in 2021, Malaysia Prihatin, and Khazanah Nasional’s Berbudi Bersama campaign, this session celebrated and upheld the heartwarming sense of togetherness and care that Malaysians have for one another, transcending all social boundaries.
Panellists chronicled their experience of going against all odds to do good and encouraged Malaysians to pay-it-forward no matter how small the gesture. In some cases, there are challenges, but the panellists stressed that there are always people who will help along the way, and sometimes that could make all the difference.
From time-to-time, we also organise capacity building sessions for our civil society partner organisations. Going beyond traditional grant-giving, we aim to empower them through knowledge and support them towards organisational and programmatic efficiency.
6, 7, 10, 13, 14 December 2021
Developing good media and public advocacy strategies are fundamental components of the good work done by any civil society organisation.
To support our partners in this regard, a series of impact media training workshops (in the form of four interactive modules conducted virtually over 2.5-hour Zoom sessions) were held over the span of two weeks. The modules also covered skills such as writing for impact, graphic design, creating social videos and boosting social media engagement.
“I found the training to be very engaging, both in subject matter, sharing of stories and campaigns, as well as the expertise of the trainer, Mr. Ian Yee. It helped us review how we were doing our media outreach and how we can do it better using the various mediums available to us. Also appreciated the coaching sessions which helped us understand our message and branding better while allowing us to plan our future approaches.” – Nuraizah Shamsul Baharin, President, Association of Bumiputra Women Entrepreneur Network of Malaysia (WENA)
“The training taught me that firstly, communications/media strategy and plans are essential to ensure we meet deadlines and in monitoring the success of our content. Secondly, to frame photos and videos to capture audience attention and thirdly, (to identify) key newsworthy components for press releases.” – Theresa Ng, Programme Development Manager, Reef Check Malaysia
18 November 2021 - 27 January 2022
During this eight-session virtual group coaching that took place over 11 weeks, the spotlight was on individual personal development. By maximising their potential and building their capacity to self-coach, this programme aimed to elevate the impact of change leaders and in turn, embed a coaching culture in their organisation.
Conducted by Puan Sri Maimon Arif, a certified coach from the International Coach Federation (ICF), the modules included group alignment, self-care, empathy and self-empathy, relationship, health and wellness, financial, leadership and finally, reflections on their transformation journey and way forward.
While the participants’ expectations prior to attending the sessions were varied, they shared some similarities, such as a lack of confidence to start a new position at work, losing motivation due to a stationary phase in their careers, being unsure of how to set targets in life, a life which felt empty, the need to stop spiralling into negativity, and procrastination in improving themselves.
Fast forward to the end of the programme, the feedback received showed that participants gained a lot of knowledge about managing themselves, which included a clearer state of mind, more positive mental health, increased confidence levels, a stronger belief in themselves, improved self-awareness and being kinder to themselves, which led to being able to set clearer goals and direction in their life.
In carrying out our duties as a grant-making foundation, driving thought leadership is an integral part of what we do. In line with our role as a catalyst of change, we believe in consistently offering value to facilitate the ecosystem towards a more inclusive and progressive Malaysia.
3 Jul 2021
Launch of Connecting Dots Learning Portal by Connecting Dots Learning / Datuk Dr Amin Senin (ex-DG Education)
7 Jul 2021
Organised by Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation UiTM in conjunction with Wave Awards 2021
27 Jul 2021
Organised by Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT)
14 Aug 2021
At the virtual International Day of Eradicating Poverty 2021 organised by Yayasan Sejahtera.
26 Oct 2021
Learnings and best practices from Collaboration and Partnership from the Not for Profit, Government and Corporate sectors
From ensuring accountability to promoting awareness on various causes championed by Hasanah and our partners, the media has played a vital role in bringing our collective vision to life.
Niaga AWANI: The Hasanah Report 2020 | The successes and challenges of delivering aid in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
CIMB, Cendana, Yayasan Hasanah join hands to spur arts and culture scene’s recovery
In 2022, Hasanah is committed to continuously serve those in need of assistance through solutions and approaches that empower communities, encourage social inclusivity and improve the environment, all while contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Applications are now open for HSG 2022, where a maximum of RM2,500,000 may be awarded for selected projects over a period of three years, depending on the duration and nature of each project. However, projects with a shorter tenure or pilot projects are eligible for smaller amounts.
The two types of funding under HSG 2022 are Organisational Development Funding (ODF) — aimed at strengthening our partners’ operations — and Programme Management Funding (PMF) — aimed at supporting the sustainability of initiatives.
In line with Hasanah’s aim to deliver long-term impact, partners will also be supported through capacity building, in addition to funding from the awarded grants.
The Eligibility Assessment, all requisite information on HSG 2022 and application guidelines are accessible at https://yayasanhasanah.org/hasanah-special-grant-2022/
Launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic that adversely impacted the lives and livelihoods of arts practitioners, ArtsFAS is now a yearly event that takes place in the third quarter of the year.
An avenue to showcase and honour artists and the local arts, it is a smorgasbord of shows, screenings, theatre productions, workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and place-making activities.
On top of that, it also serves as a platform for dialogue and intellectual discourse on matters of concern to the arts and artisans.
As an initiative, ArtsFAS 2021 created monumental impact by providing RM1.4 million in funds and creating 1,355 economic opportunities for the arts community. This is accomplished via Hasanah’s 21 arts, culture and heritage partners and 61 public showcases.
Applications for ArtsFAS 2022 open in June 2022. Visit www.artsfas.org for more info.
HDR provides funding for communities devastated by natural and man-made disasters.
Taking into account the socio–economic impacts of the pandemic, fund allocations for HDR increased tenfold in 2020.
As of 2021, we reached 110,599 individuals with 97 implementing partners through COVID-19 and flood response efforts.
Due to the nature of the fund, it is available all year round. Eligible applicant organisations must be fully registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS), the Registrar of Companies (ROC) or the Trustees (Incorporation) Act 1952. This fund is open to all projects nationwide.
For enquiries and/or proposal submission, email hdr@hasanah.org.my.
This scholarship programme goes hand-in-hand with Yayasan Khazanah’s mission: to support Khazanah Nasional’s commitment to actively develop human capital and ensure that Malaysia continues to improve its competitive edge in the global arena.
While financial support represents one part of that mission, the journey begins when deserving Malaysian citizens are offered full scholarships to study at premier universities in the country or overseas.
Besides funding, the wealth of opportunities available to Khazanah scholars include leadership and character development programmes, personal development under the guidance of a learning coach, and mentoring by esteemed corporate decision makers.
Yayasan Khazanah hopes to groom the next generation of leaders that will transform and make substantial contributions to Malaysia’s government-linked companies (GLCs) and other top local or global organisations.
Offers opportunities for high-achievers to pursue A-Level studies at Kolej Yayasan UEM (in preparation to further their Undergraduate studies at our approved universities abroad).
Applications are open from 10th until 30th June 2022
Offers opportunities for high-achieveing Malaysians to pursue foundation and undergraduate studies at selected leading local universities.
Applications are open from 10th until 30th June 2022.
This global scholarship programme — by the UK government and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Yayasan Khazanah — awards funding to outstanding Malaysian scholars who possess leadership potential, which enables them to pursue their Master’s degree studies for a one-year period in any field at top ranking British universities (as indicated by the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings).
Applications are expected to open from August till November 2022.
A Postgraduate scholarship that supports exceptional students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes in the oldest and possibly the most prestigious of international scholarship programmes in the world, aimed to nurture public-spirited leaders for the world’s future.
Applications are open from 1st June until 31st August 2022.
Funding for those who would like to up-skill themselves with full-time Executive Short Courses that range between two weeks to three months, covering the course fee and a round-trip economy class ticket (if the course is conducted abroad).
Applications are open all year round
Information on eligibility, respective awards parameters and more at: https://www.yayasankhazanah.com.my
Follow @yayasankhazanah on Instagram for the latest news and updates.
Established in 2013 through the Putrajaya Committee for GLC High Performance (PCG) GDRN was previously known as Government-Linked Companies (GLC) and Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLIC) Disaster Response Network.
Newly revamped, it is now known as the Government-Linked Companies and Government-Linked Investment Companies Demi Rakyat dan Negara as officiated by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on 11th March 2022.
Moving forward, GDRN’s expanded scope will see a larger number of GLCs and GLICs collaborating to spearhead social impact efforts in times of dire need. It is defined by three core initiatives which are Jalinan Ilmu (Education), Jalinan Sejahtera (Community Livelihood Programmes) and Jalinan Kemanusiaan (Humanitarian Response).
Follow @gdrnbantu on Instagram for the latest updates and announcements.
With the ultimate goal of creating sustainable and impactful change in the country, the overall intent of this grant is to empower and support the organisational development of social enterprises and social innovators as they continue their work to extend assistance to impoverished communities and address pressing social and environmental issues.
The scope of the grant includes innovative solutions in impact areas of education, community livelihood, food security, health and social wellbeing, environmental protection and cultural preservation.
Proposals can be implemented over a duration of 12 to 24 months, beginning in August 2022 until July 2024.
RM5 million in funding will be made available, as part of the RM75 million grant allocated by the Ministry of Finance for Hasanah Special Grant 2022.
Applications are expected to open from June till July 2022.
For more information, visit www.yayasanhasanah.org
In the same way that little drops of water make the mighty ocean, strategic partnerships and collaborative endeavours have always been the crux of what we do.
Over the years, we have seen that the value of various parties coming together to do good cannot possibly be overstated. Collectively, we are able to create greater impact for the marginalised and vulnerable.
As a grant-giving foundation, we support catalytic, scalable, replicable and sustainable programmes that demonstrate long-term thinking towards delivering positive social impact.
Beyond funding, organisations that partner with us also receive support through strategic and business advice, trainings and workshops, best practice sharing, networking opportunities and knowledge sharing across our network.
Hasanah grants are awarded to eligible Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) whose projects are aligned to Hasanah’s focus areas strategy.
Small scale funding which promotes growth and positive change within Hasanah’s focus area.
Focus on small scale initiatives that allow immediate and rapid aid, assistance or relief for the communities within all focus areas supported by our Partners.
Support and prepare individuals, communities and organisations to receive, respond, collaborate and manage humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in an effective and timely manner.
Engagements, programmes and awareness campaigns within our five impact areas with various stakeholders throughout the year.
Support one-off initiatives or projects that are aligned to Hasanah.
© Yayasan Hasanah 2022
In addition to responding to pandemic-related problems and the devastation caused by floods through our Humanitarian Disaster Relief initiatives, this year also saw an expansion of our work scope into aspects such as mental health and animal welfare.
The PINTAR-UTAR Mental Health Programme for Teachers and Counsellors in Sarawak promoted awareness about adolescents’ mental health issues and trained teachers to identify psychological challenges.
Funding was also useful for Hasanah Special Grant recipient Noah’s Ark Ipoh, to provide food, care and refuge for stray cats and dogs as they were inundated with calls to rescue abandoned animals throughout the pandemic.
Since crisis does not discriminate, the people we assisted hail from various communities that make up our beautiful nation.
In Sabah, we worked alongside Persatuan Pendidikan Bajau Laut or Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal, an organisation that provides literacy lessons to undocumented children in Semporna’s Omadal Island since 2015.
Meanwhile in Sarawak, our partner Whatmatters Sdn. Bhd. combats malnutrition amongst the urban B40 community by freeze-drying and canning highly nutritious food purchased from rural farmers.
Combining environmental and livelihood concerns, the Sustainable Bamboo Harvesting Program for Rural Empowerment supports 50 Orang Asal from Pos Poi, Perak. Additionally, Biji-Biji’s Beyond Bins plastic upcycling programme in Kampung Tengah, Puchong provides an income source for the community while ensuring plastic waste is handled properly.
At the same time, artistes like er hu player Tommy Chin Hong Wei, who lost his job during the pandemic, relished the opportunity when he was chosen to perform at vaccination centres, while Turtle Conservation Society Malaysia empowered womenfolk in the community by training them in sewing, marketing, photography and financial literacy.
Despite hailing from all walks of life, there is a common trait shared by all our partners and aid recipients — an unrelenting spirit in spite of hardship.
In line with Khazanah Nasional’s second mandate of value distribution to its public stakeholders, there are many components that make up the work that Yayasan Hasanah carries out.
One fundamental enabler for Yayasan Hasanah is collaboration.
Since its inception in 2015, Hasanah has distributed approximately RM1.3 billion in funds, and touched the lives of over 1 million people. However, we could not have accomplished this without the presence of positive collaboration. Collectively, we were able to reach a diverse group of people in need through various interventions throughout last year.
I have no doubt in my mind that the good objective of Yayasan Hasanah’s establishment is the main motivator for our team’s performance and contribution.
Our partners include a multitude of civil society organisations, corporate Malaysia as well as government bodies, departments and ministries. The first step to effectively render support is to understand the specific needs of each vulnerable community. And secondly, responding collectively and not in silos.
A needs-based approach to provide aid, relief and support also goes a long way to avoid wastage of precious resources and duplication of efforts.
In this ecosystem of collaboration, Hasanah’s role is to convene, facilitate and advocate for the necessary changes across five main focus areas; namely Education, Community Development, Environment, Arts and Public Spaces, and Knowledge. As a catalyst of change, I am proud of Yayasan Hasanah’s achievements as the value distribution arm of Khazanah Nasional, in order to advance Malaysia to its fullest potential.
I welcome you to peruse The Hasanah Report 2021 as we pay homage to the people we have supported; those who despite the challenges that stood in their way, have exhibited immeasurable Strength in Adversity.
When COVID-19 was first declared a worldwide pandemic, what began as a health crisis, quickly spiraled into a serious socio-economic crisis as well.
Last year, Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) in their Household Income Estimates (HIES) and Incidence of Poverty Report said roughly half a million middle income group or M40 households had slipped into the Bottom 40% (B40) category following the pandemic.
And while we battled rising unemployment rates and loss of income on top of the lives lost to the pandemic, climate crisis and massive floods brought more devastation into the lives of many.
Remarkably — and in spite of all the hardship faced — my team and I witnessed, time and time again, a display of strength and fortitude in heroic proportions in the communities and people we served.
And this is why Strength in Adversity is the theme for The Hasanah Report 2021.
It reminds me of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who aptly said., “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
To me, this phrase so aptly describes the remarkable strength of each and every one who withstood the challenges brought by the pandemic, natural disasters and economic challenges. Even at Yayasan Hasanah, we saw a record-breaking year in the total number of projects awarded, people assisted as well as funds disbursed. Strength in Adversity was not only seen on the ground with our communities, but also within our staff, the corporate sector who outpoured record CSR funding as well as the public service sector.
Evident last year was also the adage “The power of WE”.
Collaboration and Partnerships characterised our giving last year, where collective responses from government, GLCs and private sector enabled a more coordinated response and impacts on the ground.
Together, we can do more by leveraging on each other’s domains of strengths, capabilities, and resources for a more concerted effort. Strategic partnerships amongst public and private sectors, and civil society organisations (CSOs), coupled with a need-based approach ensure that support and assistance reached those who truly needed it in an efficient and timely manner.
A significant collaboration model last year was the efforts of Government-Linked Companies and Government-Linked Investment Companies Demi Rakyat dan Negara (GDRN) initiatives which was transformational in coordinating acute responses during the pandemic as well as the catastrophic floods in Dec 2021. A total of RM207.2 million in funding from 39 companies were coordinated and benefitted those affected by the pandemic and floods.
Similarly, the pilot initiative CERDIK saw 32 GLCs and corporate organisations coming together to contribute more than 150,000 laptops and devices as well as data connectivity to enable students from low income households to participate in online learning.
Last but not least, I must thank the Ministry of Finance for entrusting Yayasan Hasanah to deliver a wide range of social impact programmes and immediate aid through its various stimulus packages and Budget 2022 allocations which enabled us to reach a record-breaking number of 1.48 million people in 2021 alone. These partnerships are anchored on robust governance structures, trust, and adaptability in execution during emergencies. These are key ingredients to successful partnerships, enabling speed in execution to reach those most in need in a timely and coordinated manner.
To all our partners, I must say: what a phenomenal display of the power of “we”!
To us, joining forces has meant being able to contribute to advancing Malaysia, one person at a time, across all layers of society.
The number of people Hasanah reached in 2021 alone represents 66% of the total amount since 2015. Meanwhile, the amount of funds managed, partners involved, and projects overseen made up almost half of the cumulative figures measured since inception.
That being said, these record numbers and overwhelming need for assistance also serve as a grim reminder, revealing gaps in our social protection system. The pandemic has exposed the sad reality of many individuals who have somehow fallen through the cracks.
Learning from the pandemic-driven struggles over the past two years, the call for a holistic view of social protection issues cannot possibly be overstated.
Moving with the times, we too have upgraded our growth partnership models as well as impact assessment systems to better understand and serve the needs of communities.
Now, it is said that, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”; and I cannot think of a more motivated group of people to go the distance with.
I am grateful to the Board of Trustees of Yayasan Hasanah for their invaluable guidance and to the extraordinary Hasanah Squad for navigating this challenging year together.
Finally, to all Yayasan Hasanah partners, I hope that The Hasanah Report 2021 featured here, will benefit all its readers and offer some insights on our journey, in the year that was 2021.
Assalamualaikum W.B.T. and thank you.
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