ORPHANS WITHOUT PARENTS

Word of encouragement from the coordinator.

1 school bag, 2 sets of school uniform, 1 pair of school shoe, 3 dictionaries and some school equipments were given to 21 orphans in Sungai Siput on 28 December, 2008 by Komuniti Muhibbah Sungai Siput. This is the 5th year Komuniti Muhibbah Sungai Siput carry out such program. This program started in 2004. The function was held in Pusat Komuniti Muhibbah, Sungai Siput.

Each orphan will receive monthly pocket money which will bank into their own bank account. RM30 for primary school and RM50 for secondary school. Incentive will be given to outstanding student in major examination and those excel in sports.

Ketua Kampung, Kg. Jalong distributing the items.

This is a community services by Komuniti Muhibbah, Sungai Siput. It is merely on volunteer basis and sincere without political agenda / motive and discrimination. Assistance will be given to all orphans provided that the criteria are fulfilled irrespective of their religious believe, race, family and political background.

The criteria set by Komuniti Muhibbah, Sungai Siput are only those orphans without both parents; who are not staying in the orphanage home and still schooling will be given the assistance. It is Komuniti Muhibbah, Sungai Siput principe to help and assists them.

Each orphan needs to fill up a form. It needs to be certified by the respective school administration as proved that the orphan is still schooling. Certification from the respective village chief (Ketua Kampung) and endorse by the Penghulu Mukim / welfare officer / state assemblyman or Member of Parliament. Each application needs to be supported by related documents.

Ketua Kampung, Kg. Sungai Siput distributing the items.

This program was initiated by Ng Kah Choong, founder and advisor for Komuniti Muhibbah, Sungai Siput. The objective is to assists those who have shown the importance of family values. The government and intellectual often said that family institution plays a vital role in capacity and national building. Today’s social decay is very much caused by the decay in family institution.

These orphans without both parents are staying with their elderly and weak grandparents; whom they themselves need attention from the younger generation. They are unable to look after their grandchildren. What’s make them wants their grandchildren to be with them? Why don’t they send their grandchildren to the orphanage home? The answer is the love from the elder generation to their younger generation and strong family values put them together. This is what we call family institution.

Some orphans are looks after by their brother / sister. They are young and just started working. Some not even complete their schooling. The above questions applies. Why? Love and family ties!

Why don’t the related government department and society look into this? These are the people that need help and assistance to survive. This program may be expanding to nearby area e.g. Chemor and Kuala Kangsar provided that there are enough resources to do so.

The school bags, school uniforms, school shoes and other school equipments were sponsored by Mr. Kirby Wang from Ipoh. 50 dictionaries [Kamus Pelajar Oxford Fajar] was sponsored by Metro Greentown Rotary Club while the remaining 2 types of dictionary were sponsored by the founder dan advisor.

Group photo.

We do this because we are MALAYSIANS! We assist because we CARE! We bring them together because we are CONCERN! We held it annually because we are COMMITTED!

2005 HUMANITARIAN AWARD NOMINEE

Heeding Buddha’s call to help those in need
The New Straits Times, July 5, 2005

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Ng Kah Choong is a 39-year- old civil servant with a big heart. The former chairman of the Sungai Siput Buddhist Association (Youth Circle) is no stranger to organising activities for the less fortunate.

Since 1998, the association has conducted two blood donation campaigns each May to coincide with Wesak Day and National Youth Day, and Ramadan, when stock at the blood bank is low. Ng himself has donated blood 15 times. Ng, now a committee member of the association, is also active in assisting orphans through the Muhibah Community and Welfare Association. His focus is on orphans staying with relatives.

The association started a programme last year to provide the orphans with school uniforms, bags and shoes, and a monthly allowance. In addition, children who excel in their studies are given monetary incentives. Recipients continue to receive aid until they complete Form Six. Eight orphans in the Sungai Siput area have benefited from the aid programme.

Ng has also participated in development programmes for the Orang Asli in Sungai Siput. Awareness campaigns on cleanliness, river and forest preservation, and health care have also been held for them.

Last year, Ng managed to secure a sponsor for an artificial leg for a 54-year-old logger from Salak Baru New Village, who lost a foot at work.On what motivates him, Ng said he was merely responding to the Buddha’s call to help those in need.

PROJECT "ORANG ASLI"

The 'orang asli' community.

Community and humanitarian programmes have been organised in the Jalong Tinggi 'orang asli' settlement since 2001. The population here is about 2,000 people living in 11 settlements. Most of them earned their daily living from the jungle. Some works in the nearby plantation estates and some try their luck by planting oil palm and rubber. Some even try rearing cows and goats.

Joining the 'orang asli' for 'sewang'.

The 'orang asli' youth have been trained by Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli [JHEOA] in Pusat Giat MARA all over the nation. They are trained in motor and automotive repairs. Most recently JHEOA has sponsored 10 'orang asli' youth from Jalong Tinggi for the wiring course in Ipoh. It can be concluded that majority of the 'orang asli' youths are skill and semi-skill workers. Though they are skillful but most of them are not exploring their skill. They are happy living in the jungle. Only few far-sighted youth live in town.

Inspecting Perak State Youth Council volunteers distributing meal to the 'orang asli' kids.

My daughter (left) with her 'orang asli' and Malay friends.

These programmes in Jalong Tinggi 'orang asli' settlement could enhance better interaction among the children who have joint the programme. These kids are the future of Malaysia. They are Malaysian.