FOR the last three years, the Free Market Machap Jaya in Melaka has been offering the local residents good finds, including pre-loved clothes and shoes.
Machap Jaya assemblyman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said the programme meant a lot, especially for the Orang Asli surviving on their rubber tapping income.
Pelangi Pinjam, 18, from Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Besar was excited to find not only pre-loved baby clothes in good condition but also new items.
“I feel very happy because my baby is going to be born in May and my husband and I haven’t bought any clothes.
“His income as a rubber tapper is small.
“With this programme, we can take as much as we need and there are so many beautiful baby clothes,” she told Bernama when met at the Melaka Legislative Assembly Development and Coordination Committee (Japerun) community hall.
Pelangi said she filled two bags of clothes and was relieved that she and her husband, Yuzi Amrie Wang Long, 20, no longer had to worry about clothing for their first child.
Seri Manis Asing, 32, from Kampung Orang Asli Machap Umboo came to the free market with her three children aged six to 14.
“The children are very happy because there are many choices, like T-shirts and trousers.
“It is such a relief not having to spend on new clothes especially with the many necessities we need to buy.”
Maznah Isnin, 66, from Kampung Paya Datok, who came in a wheelchair, said she was happy to find beautiful clothes.
“Many families here are not well-off, so when they receive good clothes for free, they are very grateful as they can be expensive,” she said.
Free market chairman Nurashiqin Alias, 42, said the response from donors this year had been encouraging and the number of visitors had also increased.
In its third year, the event was organised in collaboration with Machap Jaya Wanita Umno, Puteri Umno and Mila University (formerly Manipal International University).
Ngwe said there could be another free market in April under a “Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat DUN Machap Jaya” plan.
