Kuala Lumpur, 6 September 2023 - Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad (“Alliance Islamic Bank” or the “Bank”) today announced a meaningful collaboration with SURI Inspirasi (“SURI”) to launch the MAH-SURI Lifestyle Project (“MAH-SURI”), an initiative aimed at improving the lives of underprivileged single mothers in Langkawi, by equipping them with skills to generate income.
As a community-centric organisation, Alliance Bank is committed to creating a positive impact on society by supporting the sustainable development of local communities in Malaysia. This corporate giving campaign is part of Alliance Islamic Bank’s social impact strategy under its SocioBiz initiative, a Shariah-compliant social funding platform that aims to empower communities through entrepreneurship. This initiative promotes financial inclusion and investment in social good, by providing resources and knowledge to the underprivileged in our communities to help them sustain their wellbeing and livelihood for the long run.
SURI is a social enterprise that provides financial opportunity and living skills for B40 single and underprivileged mothers who struggle with financial challenges. SURI aims to improve long term sustainability by providing struggling mothers with the opportunity to generate income through employment support programs. Under the MAH-SURI project, SURI will be expanding its operations to Langkawi to help underprivileged mothers there to make a living by providing support and training in Creative Sewing Techniques, Design and Product Development.
MAH-SURI is the embodiment of sustainability principles and the empowerment of underprivileged individuals to create a synergy that drives positive change and social elevation. At its core, this initiative seeks to uplift the livelihoods of a disadvantaged community by equipping them with skills to upcycle discarded hotel bed sheets, imbuing it with a fresh purpose and transforming it into innovative products and sustainable fashion items. Notably, this people and planet initiative stands out as Langkawi’s first locally-conceived sustainable handcraft brand, which is supported by the Langkawi Development Authority.
Through this campaign, the Bank plans to raise RM70,000 in funds to procure equipment essential in enabling the project’s success such as industrial and portable sewing machines, dedicated laptops for designing purposes and the locally engineered Flexsilk attire printing machine.
“At Alliance Islamic Bank, we are focused on enhancing the lives and societal wellbeing of our communities, enabling the development of sustainable livelihoods. Aligned with our goal of evolving into a bank for the community, this collaboration with SURI underscores our shared mission of alleviating the challenges of disadvantaged communities through empowerment and entrepreneurial skills, emphasising our dedication to positive transformation. We envision the MAH-SURI initiative to nurture seeds of self-reliance and financial resilience while championing an approach founded on sustainability and environmental consciousness,” said En. Rizal IL-Ehzan Fadil Azim, Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Islamic Bank.
The MAH-SURI initiative is a pivotal component of the Bank’s sustainability efforts, in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
“SURI’s aim is to erase the mindset of charitable offerings to these mothers, but instead we are geared towards income-based plans through employment support programmes. As they work and earn a living, it will leave an impact of growth and personal improvement on them and their children,” said Pn. Salena Ahmad, founder of SURI.
Overall, Alliance Islamic Bank has raised approximately RM1.7 million over the past 3 years and in FY24, the Bank strives to donate RM1 million through various initiatives under the SocioBiz programme as well as contributions such as The Flood Relief Assistance Programme, whereby more than RM50,000 worth of flood relief necessities were donated to over 200 households. The Bank collaborated with the Malaysian Relief Agency on this relief initiative to provide aid to those who were impacted by the flood crisis in Johor.
To find out more the MAH-SURI initiative or to contribute, please visit Alliance Islamic Bank’s SocioBiz platform at
globalsadaqah.com/campaigns/aib-mahsuri.
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