A Christmas Wish
Social worker Dato Sri Ang Lai Soon calls for the setting up of a central clearing house for the collection of excess food and distributing them to the needy.
CHRISTMAS, like all major festivals in this country, is a joyous time of giving and sharing.
We have this splendid and fine tradition of families celebrating a particular festival by opening their homes to all, including those from other religious, cultural or ethnic persuasions, to share in elaborately and laboriously prepared meals and delicacies special to that particular festival.
Such generosity and hospitality are almost unique to the Sarawakian and Malaysian way of life and I know I am not alone in hoping this goes on for a long time more to come.
While on the subject of giving and sharing, it is also worth reminding ourselves that there are thousands and thousands of less fortunate and the underprivileged people in our midst for whom the very act of giving and sharing means perhaps particularly more.
It is always heartening to note that no matter what festival we may be celebrating, the less fortunate and the underprivileged are also remembered and their needs are not forgotten through countless acts of kindness in any manner, big and small.
While we partake of the generosity of friends and relatives at their open houses during Christmas, let us also be always conscious of the need not to waste, especially food. All great religions throughout history, have preached on this value.
Unfortunately, far too much of good, wholesome and nutritious food is wasted on a daily basis everywhere in this world .
Commercial producers of grain – the most basic of food – sometimes purposely destroy excess output in order to maintain prices at desired levels.
This is most regrettable especially when famines still occur in war-zones in parts of Africa (South Sudan) and the Middle East (Yemen) and malnutrition remains a problem in poorer parts of the globe.
But food wastage is also a problem not just in our individual households but on a larger scale in commercial establishments dealing with the preparation and selling of food. Restaurants, hotels, cafes and bakeries routinely dispose of excess prepared food items at the end of each day, for example. Super markets can play a big role in this proposed exercise for obvious reason.
There are, of course, some ad hoc arrangements being made by individual establishments to distribute such excess food to the needy in order to avoid scandalous wastage of otherwise perfectly good food.
Perhaps some ways can be found for either reputable government-supported agencies or some nongovernmental organisations to perform the role as some sort of central clearing house for the collection of such food (fresh or cooked) and distributing them to where they are most needed.
It is most commendable what kind and generous souls in our midst are doing to help feed the less fortunate and the underprivileged .
This is always done unheralded and without any publicity.
The Sikh Temple in Kuching for example, I am given to understand, opens itself for a free lunch to anyone who drops by once a week.
More recently, the Hope Place, also in Kuching, has garnered attention and support for its highly good work taking care of the needs of almost two hundred people when Channel News Asia highlighted what it is doing in a short video clip.
Such fine work in the service of humanity is often a fulltime job just coordinating things and while it is never easy work, it will be that much more challenging still if not for the generosity of others in contributing and donating their time, money or things in kind.
May I take this opportunity this Christmas season to draw attention to such evidence of great humanity in our midst and for us all to help think of ways that we may – either individually or collectively – contribute towards making this world and our journey through it a bit more bearable for those least able to help themselves.
As St. (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta used to say, we must give till it hurts. As a charity worker and voluntary worker I understand what she meant. Such is love and true humanity for our fellow human beings.
Merry Christmas to all Christians, wherever they may be, and a joyous celebration to all at this season of Peace and Goodwill.