A GROUP which helps needy Muslim families during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan has received more requests for financial help this year.

The Tabung Amal Aidilfitri (TAA) Trust Fund has had about 2,500 new applicants for aid about 10 to 15 per cent more than last year.

The secretary of its executive committee Zainal Abidin Nordin, suggested that this year's rising inflation could have triggered this.

Its executive committee chairman Mohammad Anuar Yusop, agreed, adding: 'What $150 could buy last year, it can't buy this year.'

This was the amount given to successful applicants last year, and the committee is thinking of raising it.

It will meet next week to decide on the sum, taking into account the number of applicants who meet the criteria, including household income.

To make the larger payouts possible, the committee also hopes to raise more than $1 million this year, up from last year's collection of less than this.

It has found new corporate donors. Besides its long-time supporter, retailing and property group Second Chance Properties, it has roped in drinks manufacturer Out of the Box, foot spa Kaki Kaki and carpet retailer Fotohi Carpet.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim also wants the committee to consider making the aid conditional, say, by getting the younger and more able-bodied recipients to go for skills training.

He cited as an example the 'empowerment programme' of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), which requires recipients of zakat or alms to go for life-skills training and skills upgrading so they can become more self-reliant.

At the launch of TAA's charity drive at Tanjong Katong Complex on Sunday, he said: 'People at the bottom - the homeless, the needy, the elderly, the sick - need to be helped over a longer time. But able-bodied people or families with young children should be empowered so that they can be financially independent.'