Monday, July 2, 2018

Tan Sri Haji Hanafiah Ahmad........the pride of Banggol Derdap





HIGHLIGHTS
In 1977, Hanafiah became Director General of Tabung Haji, the Pilgrimage Management and Fund Board. Knowing from past encounters with fellow Malaysian pilgrims, especially those from rural areas how many needed support so they need not scramble for food and accommodations, HANAFIAH expanded Tabung Haji’s activities to help these pilgrims.
He made the Tabung Haji into an effective “people’s organization” with 69 branches throughout the country coordinating the issuing of passports, visas and health documents, and organizing briefings for the pilgrims. Their travel to Saudi Arabia, from air transport to board and lodging and any need for travel information and health services were also supported by Tabung Haji. Ten years after Hanafiah took the helm of Tabung Haji, the vast majority of Malaysia’s pilgrims—nearly 25,000 annually—were availing themselves of its comprehensive services.
Public confidence in the “people’s organization” saw over 1,000,000 Malaysians deposit their savings with Tabung Haji, which maintained individual computerized accounts. The growing fund was astutely invested in oil palm plantations, rubber estates, electronics firms, real estate and other profitable projects. Besides earning an approximate eight percent dividend for its investors—all in strict keeping with Islamic precepts— Tabung Haji served a secondary purpose, as a source of capital for spurring Malaysia’s progress.
The RMAF board of trustees recognizes “his enabling tens of thousands of devout Malaysian Muslims to accumulate savings and safely and economically make a cherished pilgrimage to Mecca.”

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