Thursday 13/03/2025

^{(Back row from left) Dato' Sri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, Chairman of Islamic Relief Malaysia, Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad and CIMB Foundation, and Dato' Mustapha Othman, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Belia Malaysia, pictured with the beneficiaries of CIMB Harapan Ramadan 2025.}


This year’s edition combines economic inclusion and meaningful support to communities across Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad and CIMB Foundation (collectively “CIMB”) continues to advance customers and communities through its Harapan Ramadan programme (“the Programme”) by pledging RM2.2 million to assist over 40,000 deserving individuals and families across Malaysia including beneficiaries of the Bank’s entrepreneurship initiatives in conjunction with Ramadan and the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri. A significant part of the Programme this year, includes CIMB Harapan Ramadan Berkat Bersama 2025 initiative, which aims to expand market access for micro-entrepreneurs, enabling them to reach a wider audience and grow their businesses.

Harapan Ramadan is a CIMB initiative in partnership with Yayasan Belia Malaysia and Islamic Relief Malaysia. Through these partnerships, the Programme ensures efficient implementation, reaching underserved communities with essential support, fostering inclusivity and meaningful engagement to uplift those in need during the holy month of Ramadan.

Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Islamic and CIMB Foundation said, “We are deeply committed to making positive impact in the lives of individuals and communities in need by ensuring that our support reflects inclusivity and empowerment. Through Harapan Ramadan, we extend support to the underserved and low income families by providing essential resources such as food and financial aid, while also creating opportunities for micro-businesses to thrive. More than just assistance, this initiative fosters a sense of connection and community, reflecting the values of kindness, compassion, and social responsibility and through this, we aim to bring hope, ease and empowerment to as many people as possible during this blessed month.”

This year, CIMB strengthened its support for micro-entrepreneurs by providing them with a platform to generate further income and grow their businesses. The CIMB Harapan Ramadan Berkat Bersama, held from 10 to 14 March 2025 at the link bridge between MRT Muzium Negara and KL Sentral, featured 14 entrepreneurs from CIMB’s capacity building programmes selling Ramadan and Raya-themed goods, including cookies, apparel, and home decorations. The micro-entrepreneurs are from CIMB Islamic’s Program Keusahawanan CIMB Islamic-Taylor’s, iTAAJIR and CIMB Foundation’s MicroBizReady programmes. These initiatives aim to empower micro-entrepreneurs to build sustainable livelihoods and drive long-term economic growth.

CIMB’s annual Harapan Ramadan programme has been expanded to over 100 locations nationwide, supporting asnaf such as fakir miskin, orphans, B40 families, single mothers, refugees, tahfiz and madrasah students, as well as Orang Asli communities. Beneficiaries received essential food boxes with staple items such as rice, cooking oil and ready-to-eat meals to ease the financial burdens this fasting month and for the upcoming festivities. Additionally, cash allowances are provided to orphanages to cover their necessities and support the children in shopping for their Hari Raya preparations. In the spirit of togetherness, iftar programmes, including bubur lambuk distributions, will also be held to foster community bonding at four Projek Perumahan Rakyat (“PPR”) namely, Bukit Jalil, Lembah Subang, Perumahan Awam Seri Selangor, and Seri Alam that were recently adopted by CIMB under the Program Satu Pemimpin Satu Kampung (“Santuni MADANI”).

Since its inception in 2022, the Harapan Ramadan programme has successfully mobilised over RM6.6 million in funds, benefitting over 100,000 beneficiaries from the underserved communities. It has also enabled over 700 CIMB employees to come together in volunteer efforts across Malaysia. As a responsible corporate citizen, moving forward, CIMB will continue to champion initiatives that improve the well-being and economic resilience of these communities.

About CIMB

CIMB is one of ASEAN’s leading banking groups and Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider, by assets. Listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, it had a market capitalisation of approximately RM88.0 billion as at 31 December 2024. It offers consumer banking, commercial banking, wholesale banking, transaction banking, Islamic banking and asset management products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is present across ASEAN in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Philippines.

Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong and UK. CIMB has one of the most extensive retail branch networks in ASEAN with 592 branches and over 33,000 employees as at 31 December 2024. CIMB’s investment banking arm is one of the largest Asia Pacific-based investment banks, which together with its award-winning treasury & markets and corporate banking units comprise the Group’s leading wholesale banking franchise. CIMB is also the 92.5% shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.8% shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand.

SOURCE: CIMB Group

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Anis Azharuddin / Kelvin Jude Muthu
Group Corporate Communications
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
Email: anis.azharuddin@cimb.com / kelvinjude.muthu@cimb.com

--BERNAMA