NGOs try to ensure no one goes hungry

Generous gesture: Arib (second from left) and his association members presenting foodstuffs to needy folk in Pasir Puteh in Perak.

IPOH: Many NGOs here continue to provide assistance to those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic even though Perak is under the less restrictive conditional movement control order.

Perak Indian Muslim Association chairman Mohd Arib Aliah said it distributed rice, sugar, instant noodles and other foodstuffs to 10 families in Pasir Puteh here earlier this month.

“Most of them are contract workers who are unable to work due to the MCO. They are daily salary workers. Without work, they don’t get any salary.

“It’s also the first time that we’ve donated to some Chinese families. We realise there are also poor and needy folk among the community, ” he said in an interview.

Since the first MCO in March last year, the association, which was set up in 2008, has distributed rations to some 2,500 families.

Arib said with Chinese New Year coming soon, it planned to hold another round of donations to the needy from among the Chinese community in Pasir Puteh and Pasir Pinji next month.

“We have identified about 30 families. We want to help them celebrate the occasion and lessen their burden. We will also give out ang pow, ” he said.

“We are all Malaysians and we are all friends. We need to support each other.”

Also donating rations is Pertubuhan Amal Ai Xin Fan Tong, which recently gave foodstuffs to some 400 residents at Ashby Flats here.

Its adviser Kathleen Wong said it would continue to distribute more foodstuffs in the near future.

“There are still some other areas that need assistance. We will try to cover as many areas as we can, ” she said.

Besides the rations, it also runs a soup kitchen in Jalan Ho Lok Park here and delivers packed rice to needy folk.

“We are thankful to our donors who continue to support us to help the underprivileged, ” said Wong.

Shan De Charity Home also distributed rations to needy senior folk last month.

A representative from the home, Jenny Chin, said efforts were ongoing to reach out and help those who needed assistance.

“We are also planning to give out face masks to students. We are waiting for the schools to reopen, ” she said.