Statement by Yayasan Hasanah Trustee and Managing Director Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari following Budget 2023 #kitasemua

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 October 2022: As the convenor, collaborator and catalyst for social change, Yayasan Hasanah welcomes the government’s people-centric budget that enhances social security for the vulnerable, targeted cost of living assistance, disaster relief, food security, mental health, and the promotion of green growth and sustainable, inclusive development.

The allocation of RM100mn will most certainly benefit more people in need through civil society organisations to drive greater social impact. We thank the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and Minister of Finance, YB Senator Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz and their team members for their trust in Yayasan Hasanah as well as their support to societal needs and the larger Keluarga Malaysia.

Working with the government via the Ministry of Finance from 2020 to 2022, Yayasan Hasanah has been responsible in partnering with 125 Social Enterprises and Civil Society Organisations running 177 projects nationwide that have benefitted over 1.2 million Malaysians both directly and indirectly across all layers of society. In the arts, heritage and culture sphere, our ongoing Arts for All Seasons (ArtsFAS) programme is helping thousands of arts practitioners with RM3mn worth of economic opportunity as they conduct theatrical productions, exhibitions, and ensemble performances for the preservation of culture for the Malaysian public.

Further, Yayasan Hasanah and Yayasan TM as the co-secretariat of the GLC Demi Rakyat dan Negara (GDRN) initiative along with the collective contribution from Malaysia’s GLICs and GLCs has been responsive in disbursing:

  • RM139.2mn in flood relief throughout 2021-2022
  • RM140mn for Covid-19 relief throughout 2020-2021

Yayasan Hasanah has also been an advocate for ESG and SDG goals, supporting reform and advocating for the Whole of Society Approach in all our partner projects and grant funding pillars, namely: Education, Community Development, Environment, Arts and Public Spaces, and Knowledge.

Looking ahead to 2023, we are primed alongside the government to collaborate in even more public-private-people partnerships that will maximimise scale and impact and benefit the most marginalised communities among Keluarga Malaysia. The future is about the “power of we” and multistakeholder partnerships are a powerful tool towards inclusive development. Whether livelihood improvement programmes and green job creation, or strengthening social security and access to public healthcare, Yayasan Hasanah will continue to champion collective advocacy and collaboration by bringing together impact drivers in the social ecosystem to deliver a common #kitasemua agenda.