PETRA KASIH DESIRES TO HELP THE MALAYSIANS ECONOMY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The PETRA Group recently launched PETRA KASIH, an initiative to support economic recovery and uplift people’s spirits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The launch was held in conjunction with the PETRA Group Malaysia Day Celebration at The Magellan Sutera Resort. It was attended by dignitaries and celebrities from both Peninsular and East Malaysia

Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar, Chairman and Group Chief Executive of the PETRA Group, said, “In the face of COVID-19, we must put aside all our prejudices and stand together. Our country and our people have been seriously affected economically, with livelihoods lost, businesses closing down, and with many struggling to make ends meet. PETRA Group is about creating Solutions For Humanity. Hence, we are launching PETRA KASIH as our way of giving back to the Malaysian people and contributing to the country’s recovery. It is a national imperative that SMEs and farmers, the backbone of our economy, are provided with financial assistance and protection during these trying times.”

PETRA KASIH comprises four main programmes, a micro-financing investment scheme, a farm upscaling programme, the introduction and the cultivation of a new high-value crop and a concert in support of the local creative industry:

• The Sekhar Economic Initiative: An investment scheme to help SMEs and farmers to navigate through the current economic state by upscaling their business, investing in equipment and helping to craft a viable space for them to market their products effectively.

• The Ranau Project: Designed to provide assistance to farmers in Ranau, Sabah by focussing on six fundamental needs; basic necessities, medication, food, housing and education, as well as capital for farmers to upgrade their equipment and increase their production capacity.

• The Vanilla Initiative: A 15-year plan that aims to boost the Malaysian economy by exploring vanilla, the second most expensive spice in the world, as an alternative lucrative crop that will benefit farmers by providing a new and sustainable revenue stream. Vanilla thrives in tropical climates and has the potential to become a primary export crop for Malaysia.

• The PETRA KASIH Concert: A revival of the legendary Konsert IKHLAS 1992, the PETRA KASIH Concert aims to support the arts. It will feature leading as well as up-coming Malaysian artistes. Spearheaded by the Chief Executive of PETRA Visionworks Studios, Dato’ Afdlin Shauki, the concert is slated to take place in 2021.

“The PETRA KASIH concert is our way of showing that culture, music, and the arts are integral aspects of a nation’s creative achievements. COVID-19 has heavily impacted the arts and culture scene in Malaysia with many people losing their income overnight. We hope that this concert will inspire Malaysians to hold on to and support the arts to help them come out of months of silence during the Movement Control Order. We are currently exploring avenues of organising the concert in the new normal without compromising the experience and atmosphere,” said Dato Afdlin.

A preview of the concert was featured at the PETRA Group Malaysia Day Celebration event. The line up included Dato’ Zainal Abidin, Dato’ Afdlin Shauki, K-Clique, Vince Chong, Dasha Logan and The 15.