Community development (GET-Care)

Great Eastern Takaful have recently visited the indigenous community in the Sungai Gabong Orang Asli Village through the Ziarah Prihatin Programme. This initiative, under the GET-Care pillar, aims to raise awareness in the areas of health, self-care and protection, as well as environmental sustainability. Representatives from the Department of Orang Asli Development and a Medical Officer from the University of Malaya Medical Centre were also present to support the program.

Various activities were conducted with the involvement of Great Eastern Takaful volunteers and local residents, such as tree planting, hygiene care briefing, and the distribution of 180 hygiene care packs to children and families. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to check their eligibility for the mySalam protection scheme.

In an exciting addition, Skuad Hero Lestari also demonstrated the 2-in-1 Upcycling machine to raise awareness about plastic pollution and how they can convert used plastic into new, useful items. Before the program ended, and in conjunction with the upcoming Independence Day celebration, Great Eastern Takaful have provided in-kind donations in the form of cooking utensils, essential cooking items, and the national flag (Jalur Gemilang) for the residents' use.

Great Eastern Takaful hopes that this initiative will bring continuous benefits to the Orang Asli community for a better quality of life! Let's Reach for Great together!

As a continuation of the GREAT Ramadan 2024 programme, employees of Great Eastern Takaful (GETB) have contributed daily necessities to the selected care centres, namely Pusat Jagaan Telaga Kasih Nur Muhammad and Pusat Jagaan Kasih Murni, to alleviate the burden on these centres as well as to bring joy to the orphans and the underprivileged children.

The donated contribution, amounting to nearly RM6,000, were purchased and delivered by GETB’s volunteers, and the in-kind contributions consisted of kitchen essentials, hygienic and cleaning supplies.

Holding firmly to GETB’s mission to help those in need, Great Eastern Takaful hoped that these in-kind contributions will be able to help and bring happiness to the residents of these care centres.

A heartfelt appreciation and thank you to Great Eastern Takaful’s employees who supported and contributed to this GET-Care initiative, which upholds the spirit of Reach for Great, and creating a positive impact on the lives of those in need.

In conjunction with the celebration of Global Day of Parents under the GET-Care CSR initiative, Great Eastern Takaful Berhad (GETB) organised a heartwarming gathering for the underprivileged parents at Pusat Jagaan Mahmudah Malaysia. The Santunan Kasih Programme 2024 aimed to bring joy and happiness to nearly 50 elderly residents from Pusat Jagaan Mahmudah Malaysia.

What made the event even more special was the participation of GETB volunteers, who engaged with the residence of the Pusat Jagaan Mahmudah Malaysia in various exciting activities and games such as Congkak, Dam Haji, simple aerobics, and the introduction of GETB’s upcycling initiative via the 2-in-1 upcycling machine. They enthusiastically grabbed the opportunity to conduct the machine, enhancing the day's meaning and enjoyment.

In addition to cash donations to Pusat Jagaan Mahmudah Malaysia, employees of Great Eastern Takaful also contributed essential items such as adult diapers, toiletries, towels, and other necessities. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all employees who volunteered their time and donated the essentials items.

Through these initiative, Great Eastern Takaful continues its commitment to supporting those in need and strives to make a positive impact in the community.

In celebration of Hari Raya Aidiladha, Great Eastern Takaful once again participated in Kembara Qurban Programme, a large-scale qurban activity organised by Yayasan Budi Ihsan Malaysia (YBIM). Great Eastern Takaful had contributed two cows which the qurban meat will be distributed to the selected underprivileged communities. This effort highlighted GETB's ongoing commitment to helping those in need and fostering community well-being.

The handover ceremony took place at YBIM’s office, where GETB’s representatives handed over the donated amount for the qurban exercise. To ensure freshness upon delivery to the recipients, the meat will be frozen prior the nationwide distribution. This meticulous approach ensured that the beneficiaries received high-quality meat, reinforcing Great Eastern Takaful’s commitment towards serving the community at its best.

Through this initiative which is under the GET-Care CSR pillar, Great Eastern Takaful remains dedicated to Reach for Great and make a positive impact while fulfilling the Islamic practices. 

In the month of Syawal, Muslims around the world celebrated Hari Raya, and Great Eastern Takaful Berhad (GETB), embarked on a unique journey to celebrate the occasion with its employees. The event, aptly named “Raya Kampong GETB”, aimed to bring back the nostalgic charm of old-school Raya celebration to which all GETB staff are required to don their best Malay classic attire. The purpose of this Raya Kampong GETB on a locomotive train was to allow all staff to experience the refreshing Raya celebration with a unique twist to it. Being the first takaful operator to charter 12 coaches in light of Raya festivities, we aspire to reach for great in ensuring continuous fun and engaging staff activities.

Themed “Melayu Klasik”, the Raya Kampong GETB celebration took place aboard the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad Kuala Lumpur’s (KTMB KL) locomotive train, travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Tampin. All staff members were treated to a special balik kampung experience as they journeyed through the picturesque Malaysian countryside while enjoying the classical ambiance from food to decorative elements and classical games such as congkak, dart, dam haji and karaoke contest. Upon arrival in Tampin train station, specially prepared buses awaited all GETB staff to transport them to Dewan Perdana Tampin, where the festivities continued.

GETB extended the spirit of sharing and reaffirms its commitment in helping people in need, by inviting underprivileged children from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-anak Harapan to join in the festivities. This corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, under the GET-Care initiative aimed to provide an exciting Raya experience in which their presence added an extra layer of joy while spreading the festive far and wide

Great Eastern Takaful extends its heartfelt commitment in community care by organising a memorable Iftar gathering for children with childhood cancer. Embracing the holy month of Ramadan, Great Eastern Takaful collaborated with Kumpulan Ibu Bapa dan Sokongan Anak-anak Kanser (KIDS) for the memorable event at the Grand Ball Temu Jelatek, Datum Jelatek on 29th March 2024. This special occasion brought together 100 attendees for an evening filled with laughter, smiles, and cherished memories.

It was a beautiful testament to our commitment to supporting and empowering the community under the GET-Care initiative, especially for those facing life challenges. The event fostered a sense of togetherness, positivity, and to help those in need, reflecting the values that Great Eastern Takaful stands for. Together, let’s Reach for Great!

Great Eastern Takaful had organised a memorable Raya shopping trip under the GREAT Ramadan Programme, an initiative aimed at spreading joy and happiness to the underprivileged community segment. In collaboration with Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad (Mydin), the programme which was held on 20th March 2024 provided an unforgettable shopping experience for almost 70 orphans from two chosen orphanage homes, Pusat Jagaan Kasih Murni and Pusat Jagaan Telaga Kasih Nur Muhammad.

Accompanied by 33 employees of GETB, the children were taken on a shopping spree to choose their all-new Raya outfit. This heart-warming initiative did not only brought smiles to the faces of the children but also provided them with the opportunity to experience the joy of Raya preparation as a family.

The programme aimed to instil happiness among the less fortunate members of our community while spreading the spirit of compassion and generosity during the holy month of Ramadan. Through initiatives like this, Great Eastern Takaful continues to create positive impact and help the lives of those in need.

Great Eastern Takaful‘s Groovy Club had organised a heartfelt volunteering session on 7th March, at the surrounding area of Alka Ria, Chow Kit which aimed at aiding the needy within our community. In collaboration with a Non-governmental organisation (NGO), Feeding the Needy (FTN), this event sought to provide essential sustenance and educational support to those struggling to make ends meet.

A team of 26 dedicated employee volunteers from Great Eastern Takaful joined hands to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Together, they distributed packed meals, along with bananas, breads, and water to approximately 350 individuals, offering a ray of hope amidst challenging times. Other than that, the event embraced the holistic development of the community by offering educational sessions for underprivileged children.

Towards the end of the event, the volunteers embarked on a collective clean-up initiative, ensuring the streets remained clean. Through this collaborative effort, Great Eastern Takaful’s Groovy Club exemplifies the spirit of compassion and to help those in need. Together, they demonstrate the profound impact that can be achieved when individuals come together with a shared goal, to Reach for Great. 

15 December 2023 observed Great Eastern Takaful once again collaborated with Kembara Amal Ventures in mobilising the Misi Bantuan Kemanusiaan Mangsa Banjir to deliver assistance in the form of “Rezeki Pack” to 200 flood victims in Dewan Kondo Rakyat Kuala Ibai, Kuala Terengganu, hoping that they remain persevere in getting through this challenging time.

The contributed ‘Rezeki Pack’ were filled with with daily food supplies such as rice, noodles, soy sauce, ready-to-eat food in the form of rendang paste, multipurpose paste, chili paste and pre-cooked meal in the form of chicken rice cube, salted egg, curry mee, rendang and laksa. This assistance aims to ease the burden of the flood victims, hoping that they remain persevere in getting through this challenging time.

Earlier on 13 December 2023, The handover ceremony of these aid package officiated by the Chief Executive Officer of Great Eastern Takaful, Mr. Shahrul Azlan Shariman to the founder of Kembara Amal Ventures, Dr. Hjh Azuraida Shahadan, who is also a Self, Family and Organisation Motivational expert. 

In celebrating the International Children’s Day, Great Eastern Takaful hosted 32 children with cancer via its flagship collaboration with Kumpulan Ibu Bapa Dan Sokongan Anak-Anak Kanser (KIDS) for an educational field trip at KidZania on 18 November 2023.

The participants were given the opportunity to explore varieties of choice of careers and experienced various job simulation to boost their confidence and grasps further understanding of how the given tasks were carried out.

The program provided valuable learnings as well as motivating the participants to strive academically and motivate them towards achieving their ambition.

In conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Great Eastern Takaful was pleased to collaborate with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Kumpulan Ibu Bapa Dan Sokongan Anak-Anak Kanser (KIDS) to motivate 50 childhood-cancer fighters at Port Dickson on 16-17 September 2023.

Various activities were conducted such as group & sports activities, motivational program and tazkirah session to enhance self-motivation of the participants.

This program was hoped to boost their morale and strive towards reaching for great in their journey of recovery.

Great Eastern Takaful (GETB) participated in Kembara Korban in June, which is a large-scale qurban activity organised by the Yayasan Budi Islam Malaysia (YBIM). GETB contributed two cows worth almost RM12,000 which the qurban meat was distributed to six beneficiaries which houses the underprivileged communities within Klang Valley.

The qurban meat handover ceremony by YBIM took place in Pusat Pengumpulan Hasil Pertanian which saw the frozen packed meat being handed over to GETB representatives. The total contribution of all 70kg of qurban meat was frozen to ensure its freshness upon delivery to the respective beneficiaries.

This initiative helped the beneficiaries to celebrate the festive while living up the spirit of kindness and Islamic practices associated with Aidiladha

Towards the final week of Ramadan, Great Eastern Takaful invited 50 children with childhood cancer under the Kumpulan Ibu Bapa dan Sokongan Anak-anak kanser (KIDS) for an iftar at the Koptown EDC Hotel, Kuala Lumpur in April 2023.

The childhood cancer patients dressed in their best traditional outfit and looking stylish as they were pleased to be able break their fast with their fellow mates.

May they stay motivated to reach for great and given strength along their journey of recovery.

Further to the GREAT Ramadan & GREAT Aidiladha initiative, employees of Great Eastern Malaysia shared their blessings with the residents of Pertubuhan Islam Peribadi Mulia and Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ulul Azmi in the form of in-kind distribution to enhance their quality of life.

Staying true to the purpose of helping people help each other in times of need, a total collection of RM4,000 has helped the residents which the funds were utilised to purchase personal and self-care needs, groceries and household items.

The contributed items were handed over in July 2023 in a ceremony held at Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ulul Azmi by the Head of Marketing along with the presence of the residents whom are delightful with the assistance received.

Thanks to the employees of Great Eastern Takaful Berhad (GETB), Great Eastern Life Malaysia (GELM) and Great Eastern General Malaysia (GEGM) who supported and donated towards this initiative in which had lived up to the spirit of reach for great with the vulnerable community that needs help the most.

Great Eastern Takaful (GETB) embraces this holy month of Ramadan through the GREAT Ramadan Programme by sharing the blessings with the less fortunate. This programme focuses on donations and sponsorships for the benefit of the orphans from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ulul Azmi and Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam Peribadi Mulia in the form of Hari Raya attire as well as household and personal care items.

In collaboration with Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad (Mydin), a total of 120 orphans were taken to shop for new clothes accompanied by 30 employees of GETB. The programme aimed to provide happiness and joy for the unfortunate community segment as well as providing them the experience of preparing for Aidilfitri celebration in a family-like setting.

The residents of the selected welfare homes were then invited to join the Grand Iftar Programme with almost 1000 high-achiever takaful advisors at Masjid Wilayah Kuala Lumpur.

Great Eastern Takaful (GETB) once again had an opportunity to collaborate with the Kumpulan Ibu Bapa dan Sokongan Anak-anak Kanser (KIDS) through the GETFunJourney program at Port Dickson in December 2022.

The program aimed to provide an unforgettable retreat experience while raising environmental awareness for children with childhood cancer from the family of a lower income segment.

Throughout the program, the participants were given some new learnings on the current environmental issues, recycling practices and introduction to upcycling initiatives that can help preserve the environment from plastic pollution.

It is hoped that the collaboration continues as GETB is truly committed in its effort to contribute back to the community it serves.

In conjunction with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2022, Great Eastern Takaful collaborated with a non-governmental organisation, Kumpulan Ibu Bapa Dan Sokongan Anak-Anak Kanser (KIDS) to make the MyETS Journey Program a success on 9 – 11 September 2022. This program aims to increase community awareness about childhood cancer along the two-way journey Kuala Lumpur-Alor Setar through the Express Train Service (ETS).  A total of nearly 80 participants consisting of child cancer patients, their families and volunteers of GETB distributed leaflets, shared their challenges in battling the disease while visiting various interesting places around Alor Setar.

Great Eastern Takaful, which is also concerned with the increasing number of cancer patients involving children, fully supports KIDS' efforts in increasing community awareness and understanding of childhood cancer, as well as the challenges faced by the patients, caregivers and immediate family members.

Head of Marketing Division of Great Eastern Takaful, Pn. Nurul Sheila Khalib said, "The corporate social responsibility initiative in collaboration between GETB and KIDS is truly meaningful because we would want more Malaysians to understand that just like adult patients, children may also be diagnosed with cancer and they stand the same chance to be cured, live a good life and pursue their aspirations. We hope that they will be more enthusiastic with positive mindset in facing the challenges ahead.

Great Eastern Takaful (GETB) visited Ronald McDonald House (RMH) at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) recently as part of its collaboration with Khadijah International Waqf (L) Foundation’s (KIWF) programme to distribute Infaq Pek Iftar to the 14 families currently boarding at RMH.

Great Eastern Takaful Berhad was represented by CEO Shahrul Azlan Shahriman and Head of Marketing Nurul Sheila Khalib while KIWF was represented by Hajjah Rohani Mohd Shahir.

Healthcare Assistant Raja Siti Nuraini Raja Zahri gave a briefing on RMH, after which GETB officials met a single mother and her 7-year old daughter from Pahang who were staying at the home while waiting for her follow-up treatment.

Those who take up residence here for RM5 per night are mostly parents of children admitted in the hospital’s child oncology ward. Some of these children have been warded for as long as 6 months due to the complicated nature of the illness. These outstation parents are mostly from the low-income group and cannot afford overnight hotel or motel rates, even for short stays. Others who stay at RMH are outstation kids who require follow-up treatment and consultation.

KIWF is currently raising funds to set up a similar concept home for families with children warded at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

KIWF’s Infaq Pek Iftar is part of its larger Majlis Ilmu Khadijah, which is a collaboration with 5 influencers that work together to raise funds for worthy causes.

To celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha in a meaningful way, we teamed up with Kem Wardieburn by contributing two cows for “qurban”.

As early as 7.30am on August 3, about 10 of our staff members were already gathered at the military base, and was pleasantly surprised to see a total of 13 cows prepared for “qurban”. This was because other corporates had also contributed to the event through a similar sponsorship programme.

Brigadier General Datuk Marzuki Mokhtar officiated the event by presenting the carving knife to a representative military officer, and within the hour, the highly skilled military platoon members had performed the “qurban” on all 13 cows.

The meat was then quickly distributed to community members in need living nearby. Our CEO En Shahrul Azlan Shahriman then proceeded to have breakfast with the military personnel, where he shared, "Alhamdulillah GETB manage to contribute qurban this year with intention to distribute to the community in Kem Wardieburn on this blessed day. Activities such as this is in line with our corporate values, which is to share with our community”.

GETB staff was also feted to a nice lunch made of beef curry, “sup tulang” and “sambal belacan”, accompanied with “ulam” and white rice.

Federal Territories deputy minister Yang Bhg Edmund Santhara joined the lunch event. The event truly resonated with our purpose as a takaful provider: To help people help each other in times of need. Because We Can.

Urban folks are likely winding down for the year, but the communities at Kg Orang Asli Sg Gabong will be keeping busy tending to their chilli plants over the next few months.

This entrepreneurship activity marked the close of our CSR activity in this village for 2019, where 40 volunteers from our company, joined by undergraduates from University Malaya, helped 20 Orang Asli families plant 2,288 chilli seedlings in their home compounds on October 26.

The project is part of our vision for shared progress for all as we seek to uplift lives of those with whom we share Mother Earth.

The volunteers spent the morning tilling the land and planting the seedlings together with the families, some were old hands at it, some were new to getting their hands in dirt, but overall, it was an enriching and fulfilling experience for everyone. There were also children volunteers who did not mind the heat and the worms as they used their spades tirelessly to dig through the right depth to plant the seedlings.

When the plants mature, we will assist these families by taking their produce to market, and follow through with a financial awareness talk to inculcate in these new entrepreneurs the need to reinvest their profits for even better profits in the future. Mengkuang plants have also been provided to the villagers, to plant at a more suitable time in the near future.

We also delivered grocery items and pre-loved clothes to the Orang Asli community following a collection drive among our workforce.

It was a morning to remember on June 20, when a skeletal crew from Great Eastern Takaful visited our ‘family’ in Kg Orang Asli Sg Gabong to deliver sundry and essential food items that were intended for them during the fasting month.

The MCO delayed our plans somewhat, but we still made it there two months later, with 1,500kg of items made up of rice, flour, cooking oil, sardines and personal hygiene items, packed into individual care packages for the 96 families there.

Having embarked on a chilli planting activity for the community last October to diversify their income source, we also got an expert from Jabatan Pertanian Bentong to share farming best practices with the community.

Encik Anwar Abdul Karim, an officer from the department, engaged the crowd with his interesting anecdotes on farming tips and even distributed free long beans, sawi and jagung seeds for the families to plant in their home compound,

In dispensing advice, Encik Anwar said: “If you don’t succeed in the initial attempt, try and try again. Look after the plants as if you are looking after yourselves,” he said.

Great Eastern Takaful Berhad chief executive officer Encik Shahrul Azlan Shahriman was at hand to deliver the care packages made up of essential goods to representatives of the families there.

“You have become family to us. We started our CSR here close to three years ago, providing solar panels, water filters, and setting up a children’s library. We are sincere in our efforts to help empower you towards better livelihood.

“What is important to us is sustainability, we want to continue supporting you,” he added.

Representatives from mySalam were also present to help four eligible recipients of the Government’s takaful protection scheme submit claims, after being recently hospitalised.

As we worked on coordinating the collection of  items to be donated before heading to this kampung in the months prior, one thing stood out - the support and love from the Great Eastern family, who gave and kept on giving, until we had more than enough!

Their actions are meaningful for many reasons – but most of all, it ensures sustainability of our CSR efforts for this community.

As part of Great Eastern Takaful Berhad’s (GETB) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy to demonstrate long-term impact in the communities it operates in, the company recently embarked on an initiative that provided an Orang Asli community in Pahang with energy and clean water.

In collaboration with Saora Industries, the company rallied volunteers consisting of staff and their family members into Kampung Sungai Gabong and Kampung Kepong in Bentong, Pahang to install solar powered lights and water purification systems in the villages.

Approximately 60 Orang Asli have been living in these villages without adequate electricity and access to clean, filtered water. The collaboration between the two organisations provided the villagers with basic necessities for a safer and healthier life. To top it off, the company additionally held a donation drive of household items prior to the on-site activity, which included clothing as well as school supplies and other basic amenities.

The CSR initiative is just a starting point for GETB as it shifted its long-term strategic focus to align with global sustainability efforts and ensure that greater emphasis is placed on the environmental, social and economical aspect. The collaborative CSR campaign will run throughout the year with Saora Industries providing reports to GETB for impact-measuring.

As an added objective, GETB isn’t limiting themselves to providing energy and water to these villages. Plans to look into other Orang Asli villages in other parts of the country will also be considered in the future.