SHAH ALAM:  Over RM70,000 was spent by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) this Ramadan month to upgrade the buildings at the Pusat Jagaan Kanak-Kanak Rukaiyah orphanage.

Over 120 PKNS staff and members of the PKNS football club helped repaint the orphanage’s hostel block, their library, repair broken roofs and bathroom facilities and spring clean the whole building.

“This is our way of giving something back to the community this Ramadan season,” said PKNS general manager Othman Omar.

He said this during the corporation’s 48th anniversary and thanksgiving ceremony at the Shah Alam Convention Centre on Friday.

Among those present were 1,000 PKNS staff, supporters, clients and about 30 children from the orphanage and their caretakers.

PKNS also gave away RM150 in duit raya to each orphan and biscuits for the upcoming Hari Raya festival.

In addition, the goodies were also given to 16 PKNS orphans and three disabled people.

Also there to officiate the breaking of fast dinner was   Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who announced a Raya bonus for PKNS staff.

“Apart from the usual bonus, I would like to suggest PKNS give their staff another bonus of RM200 each,” he said.

 Khalid explained that the RM200 was not meant to be spent immediately but to be used to open a savings fund at Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH).

An account will be opened for them by PKNS and the money will be credited into the fund.

Meanwhile, non-Muslim staff will have their savings account opened at Bank Simpanan Nasional. Khalid expressed hope the move would encourage more people to save.