Penangite honoured for ‘pandemic leadership’

Bravo: Tan's youth-led initiative has offered ssistance to 993 families on Penang island.

DESPITE coming from a humble family background, Tan Wei Siang is not in any way daunted in his determination to lend a helping hand to the needy.

His youth-led initiative called “Care For All” has offered assistance to 993 families in Taman Free School on Penang island since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In recognition of his effort and contribution to youth work, society and humanity, the 20-year-old has been conferred the Pandemic Leadership Award 2021, which honours volunteer leaders who demonstrated exceptional leadership commitment and contribution for the good of Penang’s community during the pandemic.

It all began in March 2020 when the movement control order was first imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The software engineering student at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) had witnessed firsthand the hardships of the families living in the low-cost flats at Taman Free School.

With the disruptions brought on by the pandemic, he was all the more concerned about their plight and knew he had to reach out to them.

Growing up with modest means – his father works at the Lorong Kulit Flea Market as a food stall worker and his family lives in Penang’s heritage district with his aunts and uncles – also made him especially sensitive to the needs of the less fortunate.

Through a series of crowdfunding and esports tournaments, he and his team managed to raise more than RM70,000, allowing them to purchase 800 food baskets, which were distributed to old folks’ homes and B40 families in their targeted area.

Each food basket contained 5kg of rice, cooking oil, sugar, flour, salt, rice noodles, sardines, baked beans, coffee and crackers.

When the MCO was reinstated in January 2021, Tan and his team were again at hand to offer the residents food basket donations.

“We went to their homes before donating the food baskets to enquire about their conditions and what they required. I couldn’t help but feel saddened by their living conditions.

“A 65-year-old woman who lives alone had to sell all of her jewellery to pay for her electricity bills but it was insufficient,” he shared in a press release.

He added that many residents in the Taman Free School area are single mothers, the elderly, and the disabled who have lost their source of income as a result of the pandemic.

“It’s no surprise that those with low income have been hit the hardest by lockdowns, unemployment, job loss, pay cuts and movement restrictions that made it difficult for them to find work.

“Furthermore, having little to begin with, these low-income groups have few or no assets or savings, and those working odd jobs do not have social security safety nets to fall back on,” he said.

Conceding that food basket donations are only a temporary measure to assist the needy, he said he hopes to empower Taman Free School hawkers to earn a sustainable living and support their families, adding that Care for All plans to organise more esports tournaments to raise funds for B40 families throughout Penang.

Tan was presented the award early this year by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in conjunction with the Young Excellence Award (YEA) 2021, jointly organised by the Penang State Exco for Youth and Sports, the Penang Youth Development Corporation, and the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur Section.

The YEA 2021 received nearly 300 submissions, of which 68 emerged winners across 15 award categories, namely, Business Performance Award, Pandemic Business Growth Award, Technology Entrepreneur Award, Green Initiative Award, Brand Award, Social Media & Influencer Award, Woman Entrepreneur Award, Rookie Million Achievement Award, Ecommerce Award, Esports Award, Pandemic Volunteer Award, Pandemic Leadership Award, Pandemic Professional Award, University Leadership Award, and University Athlete Award.