PETALING JAYA: Moved by the plight of a single mother and her children by the roadside more than 20 years ago, Chew Song Kong offered them weekly groceries.
He never imagined that his small act of compassion would blossom into a charity, reaching 160 families a month.
“It started with one family – a woman and several children – whom we spotted by the roadside.
“It was pitiful to see them. We never planned to do this on a large scale. It was more of a ‘why not? It is just one family’.
“Weekly provisions were given, and then they expanded to two, three and more families. It all started spontaneously. There were no intentions of getting any limelight,” said Chew, 67.
In 2002, he founded the Charity Food Basket Society Klang, which has gone beyond just providing food provisions but also medical equipment to those in need.
Today, Chew serves about 160 recipients on a monthly basis with between 13 and 15 food items, including rice, instant noodles, biscuits and sardines that are handed out on every first Sunday of the month.
Driving through: A volunteer helping load provisions onto a motorcycle at the Charity Food Basket Society Klang, where recipients come on the first Sunday of every month. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
The provisions are given using a drive-through practice where the entire collection process spans only about three minutes per recipient.
“The majority are from the Klang Valley, with the furthest being from Kuala Selangor,” he said.
Explaining further, Chew said a thorough vetting process is carried out before registering a recipient.
Applicants must fill out a form containing their personal and family details, utility bills and related documents.
An interview and visit to the applicants’ home will then be carried out.
“The criteria (for aid) are very simple – if their monthly income ranges between RM1,500 and RM2,000, what are their expenses?
“If the expenses are higher, we will conduct an interview at their homes.
“If successful, we will then issue them a card containing their picture, identification card number and phone number.
“The card must also be renewed annually,” he said, adding that the whole process can range between a day and weeks, depending on the urgency of the appeal.
Among the most critical cases are those comprising single mothers with multiple children.
“They may have many children and find it difficult to keep a permanent job due to their family responsibilities,” he said.
Chew added that there have been cases where the recipients successfully escaped the cycle of poverty.
“Some deregistered themselves from the aid, as their children are now working, while others are earning a stable income and have even begun donating back to us.
Helping hand: Besides providing food provisions, Chew also leases medical equipment including hospital beds and wheelchairs to those in need for free. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
“Several others are also helping to bring in some donors to support our efforts,” he said.
Chew stated that they initiated the leasing of medical equipment in 2016 after receiving a donation of a hospital bed.
“We lent it out, and soon after, there was a growing demand for this. Funds were raised to purchase more.
“We also learnt that the product was very useful, as the feedback was that the patients had a better recovery and could pass on with dignity,” he said, adding that they now have about 500 hospital beds, hundreds of wheelchairs and other equipment, such as crutches and walkers.
“We lease them out for free, and whenever donations come in, we use the funds to purchase more,” he said, noting that some of the money also goes to equipment repairs and maintenance, which are all done in-house by volunteers.
Chew stressed that the role of volunteers is indispensable.
“All of them are seniors. There are different teams for different tasks.
“Some help to arrange the provisions. There is also a team handling the repairs, delivery and collection for hospital beds, while others assist in the sanitation process for equipment,” he said.
“There are also three 82-year-olds who are part of our team,” Chew said, adding that all are helping out of goodwill.
Another initiative that Chew has taken up is providing transport and food allowance for underprivileged but bright students who are pursuing a higher education through student loans.
“They are referred to us by their teachers.
“The amount differs from person to person, depending on the student’s situation,” he said.
However, Chew said funding remains a big challenge, given the rising prices of goods.
“I often joke with my team that we are professional beggars and have to go to the ground and source funds.
“However, the biggest fear is that times are dire and donors are also cutting down on their donations. Either way, we have to work harder,” he said.
When named a winner of the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA), Chew described the recognition as “priceless”.
“It helps when speaking to donors. Just showing the news clippings reflect everything and make it easier for us to get funding.
“I never wanted recognition from the start. It was always about just wanting to be sincere, seeing the smile on the recipients’ faces. This gives me a purpose,” he said.
For his noble efforts, Chew has been named as one of the 10 winners of the SGHA 2025.
SGHA is an annual award from The Star that honours everyday Malaysian unsung heroes.
For details, visit sgha.com.my.
