SHAH ALAM - CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad has allocated RM2.4 million to strengthen its flagship iTEKAD Programme aimed at empowering up to 220 micro-entrepreneurs, gig workers and agropreneurs through financial assistance, entrepreneurship training and capacity-building support.
The programme is designed to foster sustainable livelihoods and strengthen long-term economic resilience through three key initiatives under one platform — iTEKAD Program Keusahawanan CIMB Islamic–Taylor’s, iTEKAD CIMB Islamic Rider Entrepreneurship Programme and iTEKAD CIMB Islamic Melon Manis Terengganu Graduate Agropreneur Programme.
These initiatives leverage a blended funding structure that combines matching grants from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) with allocations from CIMB Islamic’s Zakat Wakalah funds, ensuring targeted capital deployment for income growth.
CIMB Islamic chief executive officer Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff said financial empowerment must go beyond short-term solutions.
“Financial empowerment goes beyond addressing short-term challenges. It is about enabling long term economic mobility and resilience. Through our iTEKAD Programme, we aim to provide the underserved communities with not only financial support but also knowledge, tools and networks to thrive and transition from dependency towards self-sufficiency and business growth.
“This programme represents our ongoing commitment to inclusive finance and social equity which aligns with our broader purpose of advancing customers and society.
“We are committed to continue working with BNM and our programme partners, Yayasan Belia Malaysia, Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP), Lembaga Zakat Selangor, Taylor’s Community and Foodpanda in promoting our shared vision of empowering communities and creating sustainable income opportunities,” he said.
Since its launch, the iTEKAD CIMB Islamic Rider Entrepreneurship Programme has empowered more than 200 gig workers to transition to business ownership.
The programme has expanded beyond Klang Valley to Melaka, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan and Penang, reflecting growing impact and demand.
In line with the rider entrepreneurship initiative, CIMB Group chairman Datuk Syed Zaid Albar recently presented over 60 motorcycles to gig workers from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor at the Bukit Jalil People's Housing Project.
CIMB Islamic’s broader iTEKAD initiatives have also continued to strengthen economic participation among underserved communities.
The iTEKAD Program Keusahawanan CIMB Islamic–Taylor’s has supported over 500 micro-entrepreneurs from the Asnaf and B40 community through business grants and structured training.
In Terengganu, the iTEKAD CIMB Islamic Melon Manis Terengganu Graduate Agropreneur Programme is nurturing youth participation in modern agriculture by providing entrepreneurship training and four greenhouses to support 40 young agropreneurs, who now cultivate more than 1,500 melon plants each season.
These efforts align with BNM’s iTEKAD umbrella programme, which promotes blended social financing, including Waqaf, Zakat and impact investments, alongside microfinancing and entrepreneurship development to support sustainable income generation and long-term economic resilience.