KUALA PENYU, SABAH, MALAYSIA Dec 15, 2025 – Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB) has officially transferred ownership of Sekolah Agama Rakyat Al Ikhlas Kampung Kilugus to the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Negeri Sabah (JHEAINS), completing a key community education project supported by the bank’s corporate zakat program.
The handover, which took place on December 13, 2025, stems from a RM1.12 million zakat allocation provided by BPMB in 2022. This funding enabled the construction and early operations of the school, which now serves more than 200 students from the villages of Kampung Kilugus, Kampung Melikai, and Kampung Sinapokan in the Kuala Penyu district. The initiative was designed to overcome transportation barriers faced by local families, creating a safer and more convenient space for religious education while fostering moral, social, and academic growth in the area.
Dato’ Muzaffar Hisham, Group Chief Executive Officer of BPMB, highlighted the project’s significance during the ceremony. “BPMB is proud to support initiatives that deliver tangible, long-term benefits to communities,” he said. “Sekolah Agama Rakyat Kampung Kilugus is an excellent example of how targeted zakat funding, applied through thoughtful initiative selection and impact measurement, can open new educational opportunities for the next generation. This school not only offers physical infrastructure but also provides a foundation for character building and future development for our children and for Malaysia.”
The school was chosen as part of BPMB’s impact-driven evaluation process, which prioritizes projects that promote community development, employment opportunities, innovation, and aid for underserved groups. This handover aligns with BPMB’s broader 2025 zakat efforts, which have totaled RM12.5 million so far, supporting various programs nationwide.
The event was attended by key representatives, including Pn. Siti Zuraihan Binti Ag. Mohd Hussin, Deputy Director (Education) of JHEAINS, and officials from Yayasan Ikhlas, BPMB’s nonprofit partner in the project. The partnership between BPMB, JHEAINS, and Yayasan Ikhlas underscores the potential of corporate-NGO collaborations to drive lasting social change.
BPMB, a development financial institution fully owned by the Minister of Finance (Incorporated), operates under the Development Financial Institutions Act 2002 and holds a top ‘AAA’ credit rating from RAM Rating Services Berhad and Malaysia Rating Corporation Berhad. As of May 1, 2025, EXIM Bank and SME Bank became subsidiaries of BPMB, enhancing the group’s ability to offer funding and support for Malaysian businesses, including international expansion in support of national goals.
From Left to Right: Pn. Siti Zuraihan Binti Ag.
Mohd Hussin, Deputy Director (Education) of
JHEAINS; and En. Jeffrey Jainun, Regional
Director (Sabah) of SME Bank Malaysia.
Back Row:
From Left to Right: Ir. Amran Wahidi Abdullah,
Member of Board of Trustees, Yayasan Ikhlas;
Ir. Haji Kamaruddin Kassim, Director of
Corporate Department, Yayasan Ikhlas; Haji
Ruslan Yohman, Head of Zakat Management,
Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad; and
Dayang Jaudah Binti Amit, Chief Inspector
(Education), JHEAINS.
About The Author
