Business Tycoon Tahir Donates $3.2m for Covid-19 Aid
Jakarta. Indonesian business tycoon and renowned philanthropist Dato Sri Tahir announced Friday his pledge to donate the equivalent of Rp 52 billion, or around $3.2 million, to help ease the economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic.
Tahir said 70 percent of the donation will be handed in cash, while the rest will cover medical supplies and foods.
Part of the donation was already channeled through the Social Affairs Ministry on Tuesday, with Jakarta, the region hardest hit by the virus in Indonesia, receiving Rp 22 billion.
West Java, Central Java and East Java – which have also seen a significant number of positive Covid-19 cases – will get Rp 10 billion each.
He said his business empire Mayapada Group and the Tahir Foundation will also provide Rp 2 billion worth of vouchers for Jakarta residents to help them buy basic commodities.
Medical supplies including surgical masks, infrared thermometers and hand sanitizers will be delivered in the near future, he said.
Tahir said the rest of the cash donation will be channeled through the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, the Jakarta Archbishopric and the Indonesian Churches Association.
"We fully entrust the distribution of the donation to Nasarudin Umar, the Istiqlal Mosque's Grand Imam, and the leaders of the archbishopric and churches association," Tahir said in a statement.