UMP brings cheer to people of Gambang

It’s all free: People going through the clothes during the Free Market UMP in Gambang, Pahang.

IT’S the season to give and share, and a group of volunteers from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) did just that.

They collected and distributed new and pre-loved clothing to students and residents in Gambang ahead of Hari Raya.

Sin Chew Daily reported that at the Free Market @ UMP on Monday, people of all races and religions were welcome to take their pick with no fee or conditions attached, except to greet the volunteers with a smile.

Event director Paridah Mohd Ali said the event was jointly organised by the university’s women’s association – Matahari – and its students, alumni and sports and recreation clubs to help ease the financial burden of the students and local folk living in the area.

“We managed to collect two containers of baju melayu, blouses, pants and other attire through sponsorship in about two weeks. About half the apparel are branded ones and some are new.

“The clothes are worth about RM10,000,” she said.

A 20-year-old engineering student said she learnt about the event through WhatsApp messages circulating among her coursemates.

“I came with my friends to choose a few sets of baju kurung. Previously, I would spend about RM100 on Raya wear and this event helped my parents save some money,” she said.

> A lone gunman staged a one-­minute robbery at a mobile phone shop in Taman Daya, Johor Baru, Oriental Daily reported.

Armed with a submachine gun, the man burst into the outlet at 6.49am on Sunday.

CCTV footage showed the robber, in a helmet, red jacket and black shorts, pointing the weapon at a shopkeeper and asking for valuable items.

The robber was heard repeating cepat (quick) and lagi (more) at the shopkeeper, who handed over cash twice to the man.

When the suspect asked for mobile phones, the shopkeeper was hesitant, causing the burglar to fire his gun. He fled the scene after getting the items.

?  The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.