KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Aid programmes by charity organisations are more than just a platform for refuge for the urban poor.
Initiatives such as soup kitchens and free medical check-ups by charity groups have been a lifeline for the city’s underprivileged that are grappling to survive in the city, especially with the rising costs of living.
Sallehudin Mohd Sanusi, 47, said despite earning RM1,300 a month as a janitor, his family relies on hot meals from soup kitchens on a daily basis.
“We are not able to cook even if we wanted to as we live in a small room in a shop lot. Soup kitchens not only provide my wife and two kids with hot meals, but it also enables me to set aside some money for my two children, aged seven and five,” Sallehudin said.
“I don’t earn much as a janitor and I spend RM20 a day on rental. Occasionally, we visit roadside open air boutiques set up by charity groups where we can take clothes for free.”
He said his wife and him would usually take clothes for their children as they could not afford to buy new clothes for them.
“I have applied for welfare assistance in the past but the authorities said I am not eligible as my monthly income is above RM900,” he said. “Where else am I supposed to turn to for help?”
Another urban poor, Azlan Badrul, who lives in a one-room flat in Kampung Baru, said his family of four relied on free meals from soup kitchens almost every day.
“These people understand there are many out there who cannot afford a proper meal and they provide us with nutritious home-cooked meals.
“This is especially important for my two daughters who are in Standard One and Standard Two. I turn to soup kitchens when I don’t have enough money to buy proper meals for my children,” said the 50-year-old janitor who earns RM1,100 a month.
Azlan said he received free food from soup kitchens in the city once a day.
“We cannot cook at home as we do not have the space and the necessary cooking utensils,” he said.
“There are days when I starve throughout the day to ensure my family has something to eat.”
Azlan said sometimes, soup kitchen volunteers provided buns and crackers, which became a bonus since his children could take them to school.
A 38-year-old single mother, who wished to be known only as Ruby, said hot meals were not the only essentials needed by the urban poor.
“There are many of us with young children and we find it extremely helpful when groups give away baby formula, diapers and baby food,” she said.
The waitress, who earns RM900 a month and lives in a room in Chow Kit, said she learnt about soup kitchens after moving from Sabah three years ago.
“There is no one else I can ask for a helping hand. Even though people often tell me I am eligible for financial aid from government agencies, I am not sure what to do,” she said.
“I know many in the same situation as I am who have not been able to secure aid from the Welfare Department.”
Another soup kitchen regular, who wished to be known only as Shah, said people often think soup kitchens were for lazy homeless people who do not want to help themselves.
“It is not fair for the public to conclude those who seek help from soup kitchens are lazy. People would not be organising soup kitchens if there was not a need,” he said.
“People have no idea how grateful single mothers who cannot afford milk for their children are when people donate diapers or baby food or the joy on the face of a hardworking dispatch worker who had been starving an entire day when he receives a hot packet of food,” said the 47-year-old clerk turned handyman.
“I do my best to stretch my income but I sometimes rely on the generosity of charity organisations to make do.”
Shah said it was not something to be ashamed of as these groups were helping people who could not afford it.
“These days, it is also difficult securing jobs and the urban poor just have to adapt to survive,” he said.
