The Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, YB Datuk Seri Salahuddin bin Ayub, officiated the launch of the Recording Industry Association of Malaysia’s (RIM) ‘Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik’ charity programme today at Pullman KLCC, taking the organization’s efforts to help music industry professionals in need one step further. Singers, musicians, composers, and public relations representatives of record labels are just a few of the music industry professionals who can apply for financial aid from this recently established charity fund under this initiative if they are having financial difficulties owing to a variety of circumstances.
“The ‘Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik’ charity programme is an expansion of our previous Emergency Fund that was set-up to provide urgent financial assistance to music industry practitioners who were in financial distress due to the pandemic. Through RIM’s Emergency Fund, we have managed to provide financial assistance to Man Kidal (Lefthanded), Kid (Search), Mel (Wings), Zydee (One Nation Emcees), Roslan Aziz, Ross Ariffin and many others.” said Rosmin Hashim, Chairman of RIM.
He added that “there was a need to expand RIM’s Emergency Fund as music industry practitioners continue to face many hardships even after the pandemic. We heard about the plight of veteran artistes struggling to make ends meet as well as those needing help to pay their hefty medical bills. We are very grateful that we managed to secure funding support from Public Performance Malaysia Berhad (PPM), Malaysia’s oldest Collective Management Organisation for the ‘Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik’ charity programme with an annual funding of RM100,000.”
“As with the previous RIM Emergency Fund, we will adhere to the set parameters and conditions in the disbursement of financial assistance from the ‘Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik’ fund to deserving applicants. All applications will be subjected to the review and approval of this charity programme’s Committee comprising of selected RIM Council members. We hope that this charity programme will help bring some measure of relief to music industry practitioners who are in dire need of financial assistance.”
“The ‘Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik’ is also in line with the ‘Payung Rahmah’ initiative initiated by YB Datuk Seri Salahuddin bin Ayub, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to help defray the cost of living of the people and we are honoured to have him officiate the launch of RIM’s charity programme tonight. Applications for the financial assistance can be submitted from 1 June 2023 onwards at a dedicated page on RIM’s website.” Rosmin concluded.
During the night, contributions of RM2,000 each were handed out by the KPDN Minister to the first 10 recipients of the charity fund which included:
1. Ibnor Riza – Suffering from Stage 4 Lymphoma Cancer
2. Zaiton Sameon – Traumatic brain injuries and loss of income
3. Rahim Maarof – Stroke and currently in ICU
4. Ali (XPDC) – Loss of income due to stroke
5. Sazali P. Ramlee – Health problems and low royalty
6. Dato’ Ooi Eow Jin – Loss of income due to Alzheimers
7. Ben Nathan – Depression and needs financial assistance to take care of his mother’s medical bills
8. Huang Jun Tian – Bedridden after stroke
9. Zaleha Hamid – Stroke and bedridden
10. Shima – Nerve problems and a mysterious illness
After the KPDN Minister’s officiation of the programme, guests were treated to performances by current and veteran artistes such as Ikhwan Fatanna, Aqeesh Aleeya, Aishah, Ramlah Ram and Dato’ Francissca Peter. The night ended on a high note when the KPDN Minister made his rounds to mingle with local artistes for a casual meet and greet session.
Details of the ‘Sumbangan Rahmah Industri Muzik’ charity programme including eligibility, criteria and application form can be found at www.rim.org.my/sumbangan-rahmah-application
For more information, visit www.rim.org.my or follow us at facebook.com/RecordingIndustryMalaysia, @recordingindustrymalaysia on Instagram and @rim_malaysia on Twitter.
