Some $213,000 raised through a charity dinner held on Saturday night will go towards helping some needy students.

The money goes to the Harun Ghani Education Fund that helps children of drug offenders and former drug offenders complete their education.

This brings the total amount collected to half a million dollars.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was Guest-of-Honour at the dinner.

For the late Harun Ghani, tackling the drug problem that was particularly serious among the Malays in the early 1990s was a project close to his heart.

And the legacy of the former political secretary, who put his heart and soul into solving this problem, remains.

An Education Fund has been set up in his name.

The fund will be used to motivate children of drug offenders and former drug offenders from low-income families complete a minimum post-secondary education.

The people behind the fund believe that the best way to help these families rebuild lives ravaged by drugs is through their children's education.

Awards are also given to children of volunteer drug counsellors in recognition of their parents efforts at drug reform.

At the fund's inaugural presentation held in December last year, almost $30,000 in education awards was disbursed to 256 students, including those in ITEs and junior colleges.

And his son-in-law Dr Rashid Tahir, who helped organise the charity dinner, explains what more they hope to do.

He says: "The funds were donated by all Singaporeans. So we would like to extend our assistance to university and polytechnic students from all races, as long as they come from low-income families, which meets the objectives of the funds."

Another $17,000 was donated on Saturday night by political leaders, led by the Prime Minister. - CNA/ch