SALAM’s Volunteering Movement Reawakens
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14: After years of pandemic‑induced quiet, the volunteering spirit of Yayasan SALAM Malaysia, a homegrown organisation that has long championed community service, is stirring again in a big way.
Leading this revival is Yayasan SALAM’s Second Smile Initiative, which reimagines how Malaysians can serve society with purpose and sustainability while promoting unity.
The Second Smile Initiative
At the heart of this Second Smile initiative is a programme that blends compassion with innovation. In recent weeks, Yayasan SALAM has distributed edible foodstuffs to thousands of people in care homes, orphanages, schools, and underprivileged communities.
An initiative spearheaded by Yayasan SALAM’s trustee L. Manikavel and trustee-designate, S. Jai Shankar, it has become the NGO’s most visible charity-based activity this year to date through the distribution of Ribena drinks, donated by Suntory Malaysia.
This is more than charity. It is Yayasan SALAM’s embrace of the circular economy, ensuring that products with useful shelf‑life are channelled to those who need them most rather than being wasted.
As Yayasan SALAM puts it, “A first smile comes from receiving help. The second smile comes from knowing that help was thoughtful, sustainable, and dignified.”
Recipients of Yayasan SALAM’s Second Smile Ribena drinks: Rawang Seva Gurukulam; Trinity Home Petaling Jaya; Selangor Mental Health Association; Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan; Pertubuhan Nadi Dialog Malaysia, Bangi; Lighthouse Children Welfare Home Bangsar, Joy To The World Community Services Puchong; Pertubuhan Kebajikan Rumah Mega Kanak–Kanak, Bandar Sri Damansara; Rumah Kasih Harmoni Paya Jaras, Sungai Buloh; Persatuan Kebajikan Rumah Anak Yatim Damai Kuang and Pertubuhan Amal Dan Kebajikan Anak – Anak Islam Tersisih Selangor (Pakats)
Others include Praise Emmanuel Children’s Home, Petaling Jaya; Persatuan Kebajikan Michael, Petaling Jaya; Selangor Malaysian Association For The Blind; BRDB Rotary Children’s Residence Kuala Lumpur; PEC Sentul (Guru Nanak Punjabi School, Sentul); Tara Foundation, Kuala Lumpur; National Cancer Society Malaysia, My Skills Foundation, Kuala Kubu Bahru; and CWO Chin Women’s Organisation (Myanmar Children).
In addition, Yayasan SALAM’s Lead Volunteer, Zakiah Senin, distributed the Ribena drinks over three days to nine Orang Asli Communities in the Hulu Langat District in Selangor. The communities were in Sungai Gabai, Paya Lebar, Donglai Baru, Kuala Pansoon, Sungai Lalang Baru, Kachau Dalam, Kachau Luar, Genting Peras and Broga.
The distribution was also facilitated by Zarifatun Najihah Borhan, an employee of Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA), Hulu Langat.
Zakiah said: ”Besides the drinks, we also brought along other kinds of foodstuffs for these communities as well as colour pencils for their children. They were very grateful for our efforts. In our drive to bring meaningful change to these communities, we also took the opportunity to motivate the children to give greater attention to their studies, health and food intake.”
As Malaysia navigates its post‑pandemic recovery and manages various economic challenges from external developments, SALAM’s initiatives remind us that volunteerism is not a luxury but a necessity.
It strengthens social bonds, uplifts the vulnerable, and fosters a sense of shared humanity. In a time when divisions can easily take root, Yayasan SALAM’s work is a timely call to action: to step forward, to give back, and to rediscover the joy of collective effort.
Yayasan SALAM’s strength lies in its ability to create structures that allow volunteers to learn from and support one another. It is not content with sporadic acts of kindness; it seeks to embed volunteerism into the everyday rhythms of Malaysian life.
Yayasan SALAM’s revival this year began with the Yayasan Salam Unity Explorace‑Treasure Hunt on February 8, 2026, to coincide with the birthday of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.
It was more than a fun outing. It was a deliberate effort to reconnect Malaysians across ethnic and social divides. By mixing participants into diverse teams, Yayasan SALAM reminded us that unity is best experienced, not merely preached. This symbolic start set the tone for a broader campaign to reignite volunteerism nationwide.
SALAM — Celebrating Unity Through Volunteerism
Volunteerism is not just about filling gaps in welfare. It is about shaping the kind of society we want to live in — one where unity is celebrated, resources are used wisely, and every Malaysian has the chance to smile twice, or even more, says Yayasan SALAM Chairman Datuk Yong Soo Heong.
WE