Food packs ease Deepavali preparations for 100 recipients

Saifuddin (in blue shirt) handing a food pack to one of the recipients at the event in Mount Erskine. To his left are Lee and Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star

SINCE her husband passed away five years ago, Deepavali for single mother K. Solochana, 66, has been a modest occasion.

However, Solochana will have something extra to look forward to this year after receiving a Deepavali food pack from Kebun Bunga assemblyman Lee Boon Heng at an event earlier this month.

“I feel happy. With this food pack, I can prepare some dishes for myself and my children when they visit me,” said the cleaner who only earns about RM500 per month.

“These items will ease my burden as I prepare for the festive celebration.”

Solochana received food packs containing grocery supplies such as rice, cooking oil and milk powder, along with some festive treats such as muruku.

“I used to be a full-time housewife when my husband was still around.

Solochana says the food pack is a blessing.

“But I have picked up work as a cleaner at Fettes Park to make ends meet.

“It is a blessing to receive the food pack and I thank the new Kebun Bunga assemblyman for showing concern to his constituents,” she said.

Another recipient K. Rajamani, 50, said the food pack was timely and would ease part of his burden to prepare for the festivities.

“Now I have something to bring home for my wife to cook during Deepavali,” said Rajamani who works as a security guard.

Solochana and Rajamani were among 100 recipients who received Deepavali food packs after the opening ceremony of the Kebun Bunga constituency service centre at Mount Erskine.

The food packs were handed over by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who also marked the service centre’s official opening.

Of the 100 recipients, 30 were policemen from several police stations in the constituency.

The Mount Erskine premises will be Lee’s main service centre, but the assemblyman is opening another one in Rifle Range.

“This will enable me to better serve the constituency, which has a population of about 50,000,” said Lee.

“I have to make sure I can serve every single resident within my constituency, and I want to ensure they receive the best service.”

Saifuddin in his speech said Lee was his special officer during his tenure as Pantai Jerejak assemblyman, and was capable of doing community work.

He believed Lee could be an excellent people’s representative and assemblyman.

Present during the ceremony were state police chief Comm Datuk Khaw Kok Chin, George Town acting OCPD Supt V. Saravanan and police officers from state police headquarters. — By IMRAN HILMY