Good Samaritans bring Raya cheer to three poor Muslim converts in Bau District
KUCHING: A group of Good Samaritans recently pooled funds to purchase food items for three poor elderly villagers in Bau District ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Representative of the donors, volunteer social worker Lim Chee Haw, handed over the contributions to Sarawak United National Youth Organisation ( Saberkas) Serembu branch official James Daim, who was tasked with distributing the items to the recipients – Rohani Abdullah, 66, Junan Abdullah, 78, and Zailina Abdullah, 57, who are all Bidayuh Muslim converts.
In his remarks, Lim thanked the donors namely Fook Lai Construction at Batu Kawah New Township, one Mr Hii and Sandi Bunya from Jalan Matang, and other Good Samaritans for their assistance in this latest charity act.
“Although not much, the contributions comprising rice, eggs and other food items are meant to reduce the financial burden of these families so that they can celebrate Hari Raya.
“I’m happy that the donors responded quickly to the request made by James to assist these families. In fact, we have been helping the poor families in Bau District for several times,” said Lim – a retired Marine Police personnel who is now devoted to doing charity work.
According to him, he has undertaken 769 acts of charity over more than five years and now, he looks forward to doing 1,000 acts of charity hopefully within the next three years.
He said the hardship and poverty experienced during his childhood had driven him to devote his life to helping unfortunate members of society and organisations in need, after he left the service.
He counted his acts of charity to include gathering people to pool funds and buy food items, and also give cash donations to needy individuals and organisations – irrespective of racial and religious orientation.
Another act of charity includes helping poor non-Muslims acquire coffins for the funeral of departed family members.
He said cash donations from Good Samaritans would be channelled to a coffin shop at Mile 3 1/2 near here, which would then send the coffins to the eligible families.
So far, several coffins have been sent to poor families as far as in Bau, Serian and Sri Aman. The latest recipient was a family from Sungai Apong, who requested the coffin to be sent to Sarawak General Hospital mortuary following the death of a family member.
The other recipients were families in Kampung Murud Plaman near Serian, Kampung Sinjog, Mile 18 Kuching- Serian Road, Kampung Sabang in Simunjan, Kampung Tanah Merah, Mile 27 Kuching- Serian Road and Kampung Mantung Marau in Serian.
“There’s this Chinese belief saying that buying a coffin would bring the reversal of bad fortune.
“Whatever the reason may be, this act can, in fact, ease the burden of the poor and the needy,” said Lim.
Those interested to contribute can call Lim via 082-248153 / 0168070 388.