KOTA BHARU – A single mother, whose four children have converted to Islam, has never let their religious beliefs come between them.
Koh Kim Keok, 48 from Kampung Lembah Sireh here, has seven children, four of whom have reverted and one of them is still living with her.
“I grew up living among the Malay people who are kind-hearted and that is why I do not view Islam as a strange religion. I make good friends with them so I have no problem accepting my children who have converted to Islam. In addition, my children have never shunned me and they treat me perfectly,” she told Bernama today.
Earlier Koh received a visit from Prof Madya Dr Azlina Ahmad in conjunction with the Kubang Kerian Dental Sciences Medical Centre community programme, who presented Koh with a cash donation and two laptops to facilitate her children’s online learning.
Also present was the Kelantan branch Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (Macma) chairman Dr Johari Yap.
Koh’s husband passed away from liver disease 11 years ago and she had been the family’s breadwinner since then to support three of her younger children aged between 13 and 17.
Although they have to contend with a subdued celebration of the Chinese New Year following the COVID-19 pandemic, Koh said she was still making some preparations to usher in the new year.
Working in Singapore
Koh said her sons Muhammad Adam Haikal Ong, 26, and Muhammad Danish Ong, 23 who are working in Singapore would usually return home to celebrate the festivity with her however this year they could not come home due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order to break the chain of the COVID-19 infection.
“Besides Adam and Danish, two of my daughters have also converted. Nur Hidayah Ong, 24 is married and living separately and Nur Aisyah Ong, 21, is still living with me,” she said.
Koh said even though they have different religious beliefs now, they would still celebrate the new year together.
“However, the excitement this year is not the same as before because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.
Koh who works at a food stall said she could not go to work since the enforcement of the MCO and had to rely on the money sent by her sons in Singapore for daily use.
In addition, she also received aid from Macma to buy daily necessities.
CSR programme with Uncle Kentang
Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) meanwhile in a related development, today joined forces with community activist ‘Uncle Kentang’ to give out basic food assistance and ang pow to the needy in Puchong, near here, in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration this Friday.
Prasarana Group Strategic Communications and Marketing deputy chief Rafizah Amran said the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme was to deliver basic items, such as rice and sugar, to 45 families at a brief event at the Puchong Industrial Estate Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station.
‘’We have many reasons for implementing the programme this year. But the main reason is realising the grave impact of COVID-19, which has affected the lives of everyone,” she said in a statement today.
Rafizah said Prasarana would also organise the same CSR programme in conjunction with Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali and Christmas.
Meanwhile, Kuan Chee Heng, or Uncle Kentang, hoped that the co-operation established could be continued and would inject enthusiasm and inspiration to other corporate companies to implement a similar programme to help the needy.
In conjunction with the Chinese New Year, Rapid KL also distributed mandarin oranges to the public at LRT, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), monorail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Sunway Line stations as well as at the Rapid Penang and Rapid Kuantan stations as a sign of appreciation for their support in using the public transportation services handled by Prasarana.
