By Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo by Muhammad Nur Zairi Mohd Nazari
SERDANG, 25 February – Student welfare continues to be a central priority at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) as the University’s Chancellor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, presented Aidilfitri contributions to 50 asnaf students during a Ramadan Iftar and Tarawih ceremony held at Masjid UPM today.
More than an annual Ramadan tradition, the event reaffirmed UPM’s continued commitment in safeguarding the wellbeing of its students. Recipients included asnaf students, orphans, converts and persons with disabilities, reflecting the university’s inclusive and sustained approach in supporting vulnerable members of its campus community.
The ceremony also underscored the strategic role of UPM’s Centre for Waqf, Zakat and Endowment (WAZAN) as the main driver of the university’s welfare fund management. During the event, the Chancellor received UPM Zakat funds amounting to RM10,290,426.32, managed by WAZAN, alongside various zakat and waqf contributions from corporate bodies, agencies and individual donors.
Among the notable contributions were RM450,000 from Lembaga Tabung Haji and RM200,000 from Etiqa General Takaful Berhad, together with business and income zakat from university-linked entities, including Putra Business School.
UPM also received RM1,216,965.57 in Wakaf Ilmu funds to support academic programmes, student financial aid, research activities and infrastructure development. Further extending the impact of healthcare waqf, UPM Holdings Sdn. Bhd. donated a haemodialysis machine worth RM120,000 for patients at the Putra Renal Intervention & Dialysis Centre (PRINCE) UPM.
Throughout 2025, WAZAN UPM has distributed RM4.9 million in zakat funds, benefiting both students and staff, reaffirming the university’s social responsibility and commitment to wellbeing.
WAZAN UPM Director Haris Dahlan said the entrusted funds play a vital role not only in providing assistance to students in need but also in supporting the broader ecosystem of knowledge development and welfare within the university.
“WAZAN functions as a balancing instrument between welfare, education and institutional development. Funds are strategically managed to ensure comprehensive, sustainable and long-term impact,” he added.
Established on Oct 1, 2016, WAZAN continues to be strengthened based on five core principles — compassion (Ihsan), wisdom (Hikmah), justice (Adil), balance and excellence (Al-Falah), in line with the university’s aspiration in cultivating a resilient and empathetic campus community.
During the ceremony, the Chancellor joined approximately 1,000 members of the UPM community and nearby residents in breaking fast and performing the Maghrib, Isyak and Tarawih prayers, reflecting His Royal Highness’s commitment to the spiritual and social wellbeing of the campus community.
