Melaka | 8 August 2025 – In a meaningful step towards enriching community access to knowledge and fostering a culture of learning, PPZ-MAIWP, through the Akademi Zakat (AZKA-PPZ) as intermediary, has proudly served as one of the main sponsors for the Sudut Bacaan Sejahtera MADANI (MADANI Reading Corner) at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka’s (UTeM) Adopted Village — Kampung Bukit Nibong, Ayer Molek, Melaka.

This initiative is part of the Knowledge Sharing Transfer Program (KSTP), an ongoing effort by UTeM to empower local communities through education, knowledge sharing, and skills development. It aligns with the broader MADANI values of inclusivity, sustainability, and shared prosperity, while reflecting AZKA-PPZ’s mission to integrate zakat’s social development mandate into initiatives that uplift society.

A Collaborative Effort with a Shared Purpose

The culmination of the programme took place on 8 August 2025 with the official handover and launch of the MADANI Reading Corner, officiated by Professor Dr. Zahriladha bin Zakaria, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) of UTeM. Representing AZKA-PPZ at the ceremony were Pn. Nurul Shuhada Mamat and Pn. Nurul Izzah Azhar, who witnessed the event alongside a strong line-up of collaborators, including other sponsors, corporate partners, and community leaders.

The initiative also received contributions from a wide network of partners, including the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) of Kampung Bukit Nibong, UTeM’s Artificial Intelligence Club, UTeM Holdings Sdn. Bhd., Sawipac Sdn. Bhd., CPS Ventures Sdn. Bhd., Pekan Ilmu Publication Sdn. Bhd., Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Koperasi UTeM Berhad, Penerbit UTeM, IEEE Asia-Pacific Limited, and Access Dunia Sdn. Bhd. This multi-stakeholder collaboration underlines a key reality — that meaningful, sustainable impact is best achieved through collective effort.

Beyond a Reading Corner — A Community Platform

While physically located at Kampung Bukit Nibong, the Sudut Bacaan Sejahtera MADANI is designed to be far more than just a space to house books. It is envisioned as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, where members of the community — from school children to the elderly — can engage with educational resources, literacy programmes, and skill-building activities.

By providing a dedicated, accessible learning space within the village, the initiative seeks to:

• Encourage a lifelong reading habit and love for knowledge across all age groups.

• Support literacy development and educational advancement for underserved communities.

• Create an inclusive environment for cross-generational learning.

• Strengthen community identity and social cohesion through shared educational activities.

For AZKA-PPZ, the initiative reflects an understanding that the role of zakat institutions extends beyond monetary distribution. It includes supporting the infrastructure and opportunities that allow communities to break cycles of poverty through knowledge, skills, and empowerment.

AZKA-PPZ’s Commitment to Knowledge Empowerment

As the knowledge and research arm of PPZ-MAIWP, AZKA-PPZ has long championed programmes that bridge education with social finance principles. Its involvement in the MADANI Reading Corner project represents a deliberate step towards embedding the values of zakat literacy and social empowerment into tangible community development initiatives.

In facilitating and sponsoring this project, AZKA-PPZ plays a dual role:

1. Resource Provider – Supporting the physical establishment of the reading corner.

2. Community Development Partner – Working alongside local and institutional stakeholders to ensure the space becomes an active hub of learning, not just a static collection of books.

This approach mirrors AZKA-PPZ’s wider strategic direction of ensuring zakat collection is matched with impactful, sustainable programmes that benefit society in the long term.

A Vision for Sustainable Impact

In his officiating remarks, Professor Dr. Zahriladha bin Zakaria emphasised that the MADANI Reading Corner should not only be a symbol of academic pride but a living, breathing centre of knowledge for the local community. This sentiment echoes the vision shared by AZKA-PPZ — that true empowerment comes when educational access is continuous, inclusive, and designed to inspire.

As part of the broader KSTP, literacy-based activities had already begun on 19 July 2025, laying the groundwork for the reading corner’s official launch. These early activities included information literacy workshops, skills training, and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at preparing the community to fully utilise and take ownership of the space.

Conclusion

The Sudut Bacaan Sejahtera MADANI at Kampung Bukit Nibong stands as a testament to what can be achieved when institutions, corporations, and communities work together with a shared vision. For PPZ-MAIWP and AZKA-PPZ, it is a reaffirmation of their commitment to empowering communities through education, fostering a culture of lifelong learning, and ensuring that the values of zakat are lived out in ways that transform lives.

It is hoped that this initiative will serve as an enduring act of amal jariah — one that continues to benefit the community, ignite curiosity, and strengthen the link between knowledge and social well-being for years to come.