Human Writes: Helping those hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia


A group of volunteers (in white shirts) handing out food to foreign construction workers in George Town, Penang, in April 2020. Daily wage earners like construction workers who could not work during Malaysia's lockdown period had to depend on handouts to survive. Foreign workers had it especially hard as they are not eligible for government aid. — MUSTAFA AHMAD/The Star

She was only 18 and struggling to survive in Kelantan. Her mother had died, her father had lost his job and there were two younger sisters. She got help to pay the rent, but then the landlord asked for an extra RM1,000 even though they had previously agreed it would be paid in two weeks. He wanted to buy a cow to slaughter for korban (sacrifice) for the villagers for the upcoming Hari Raya Haji festival on July 31, 2020.

“When she refused to pay, he wanted to kick the family out. I had to find the money in two days, ” says Datuk Dr Hartini Zainuddin, founder of Yayasan Chow Kit, a crisis and drop-in centre for children that provides a range of services, including legal, financial, educational and counselling services.

Unlock 30% Savings on Ad-Free Access Now!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Mangai Balasegaram , Covid-19 , economy , poverty

Next In Living

Japanese restaurant Nikaku serves a pork-free, alcohol-free omakase menu for all
From cooking to candy, roses are used for everything in this�Albanian town
Sunny Side Up: How do we find genuine happiness?
The prettiest sheep of all: This beauty contest in Senegal is a woolly affair
F1 drivers get trophies made of Lego at British GP
What happens if food imports and exports between countries suddenly stopped?
Contradictheory: GST. SST. It’s all complicated, and it all affects our pockets
Dear Thelma: I am 17 and I made a big mistake with my friends using AI
Ducks return to a century-old US farm that lost its entire flock to bird flu
Humble Mallorcan fish stew showcases under-appreciated cuisine in Spain

Others Also Read