SINGAPORE – “Orang berbudi kita berbahasa,” a Malay adage that literally means one good turn deserves another, is what inspired 10 Malaysian riders to undertake a charity programme to deliver food to 4,000 Singaporean beneficiaries during Ramadan, here.
The programme, a weekly mass Iftar, is organised by the Muslim Converts’ Association of Singapore (MCAS) for its members, volunteers, converts, born Muslims, and members of the public, every Saturday.
The programme aims to deliver 1,000 packed food to 1,000 beneficiaries per week, by 200 dedicated volunteer riders including the 10 Malaysian riders, providing their share of complimentary services for the community.
“Me and my friends often participate in various charity programmes back home, including distributing food during Ramadan since last year,” said one of the riders, Shahruddin Haeal Helmy Mohd Noh, to Bernama.
“I found that many Singaporeans from various races have been distributing food and offering other assistance to Malaysians stranded in the republic for more than a year now,” he said.
To Shahruddin and his compatriots, it is only proper that they paid back the good deeds of Singaporeans by distributing food for less well off Singaporeans during Ramadan.
When met last Saturday when the convoy was flagged off, Shahruddin and his friends had no qualms with the weekly distribution of food throughout the island state despite the uncertain weather conditions.
They will first collect the food from five distribution centres across Singapore – Darul Arqam; Masjid Assyafaah; Hezom International; Leng Kee IAEC; and Masjid Omar Kg Melaka – before distributing them.
Maybank, Malaysia’s largest bank, has also played its role in assisting Malaysians in Singapore since the border closure more than a year ago to curb the spread of COVID-19.
For MCAS’ programme alone, Maybank Singapore became the Gold sponsor where S$15,000 is donated from Maybank Islamic’s Zakat funds or Alms tax.
“With this initiative, we are hopeful the Zakat funds’ disbursement in form of the food aid will ease the burden of the community in need to a certain extent…in particular, the underprivileged as well as Malaysian workers who are working and living in Singapore,” said Head of Islamic Banking at Maybank Singapore, Norzulkarnien Nor Mohamad.
Earlier in April, Maybank Islamic also partnered with Free Food for All (FFFA) to contribute Ramadan food packs and vouchers to 150 Malaysian workers working and living in Singapore.
Meanwhile, president of MCAS Muhammad Imran Kuna said the association is also partnering with #KitaBersaudara and 1THIRDMEDIA movement in assisting 60 low-income Malaysian workers who have been stranded in Singapore.
“I don’t like to call them needy. I don’t like to use the term; they are unfortunate because of the lockdown. We called the association. We ordered them Nasi Briyani every week and we give it to them very privately. We don’t want to see them lining up like the needy,” he said.
Apart from the food aid, Muhammad Imran noted that more can be done for Malaysians stranded here.
“We are looking into ways on how to keep these groups coming back. We have a couple of groups in other areas. After this ‘puasa’, we will continue to reach out to these groups and see how we can engage with them,” he said.
