MELAKA: What began as a simple sahur distribution drive in Sungai Udang turned into a moving display of unity when night-shift workers insisted that their non-Muslim colleagues be included in the pre-dawn meal.
Social activist Mohd Nor Ismail said his team had prepared more than 100 cooked meals and food packs for Muslim frontliners on duty, including police personnel, prison officers, soldiers, security guards and construction workers.
“What started as a straightforward distribution effort became far more meaningful when we saw how the recipients responded,” he said yesterday.
Mohd Nor, 56, said several workers politely declined to accept meals unless colleagues of other faiths were also given food.
One soldier stationed in the area asked to share his sahur pack with a colleague from Sabah who is not Muslim.
“It wouldn’t feel right for me to eat alone,” the soldier told them.
A security guard made a similar request, urging volunteers to hand a food packet to his Hindu co-worker who had yet to eat.
The repeated gestures prompted the team to order additional meals midway through the rally to ensure that non-Muslim workers on shift were not left out.
“It was an eye-opener for us. We realised that people genuinely care for one another and want everyone to share in the blessings of the meal,” Mohd Nor said.
Beyond the roadside distribution, the group also visited several orphanages in the area, delivering food kits and financial assistance to underprivileged children.
“Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink. It is also a time to foster unity and empathy,” he said.
Mohd Nor added that similar sahur initiatives would be organised in other areas throughout the fasting month.
