Tuesday July 17, 2012

Organisations must work together for the poor

By IVAN LOH
ivanloh@thestar.com.my

CHARITABLE organisations should work together to help the poor and needy instead of trying to outdo each other, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Non-governmental organisations should complement each other’s efforts in helping the less fortunate and at the same time, assist the government in its effort to help the poor, he added.

“Poverty is colour-blind. It transcends race and religion, which is why everyone should work together to help the poor,” he said when opening the Sikh Human Development Organisation in Kampar last Friday.

Benefiting the public: (From left) Malim Nawar assemblyman Keshvinder Singh, Jasvinder and Zambry at the event.

Applauding the organisation’s efforts in providing aid and free medical checks to poor villagers in rural and urban areas, Dr Zambry expressed hope that they would continue doing so for the benefit of the poor.

“It goes to show that they understand the problems faced by the rakyat,” Dr Zambry said before announcing a RM30,000 allocation for the organisation to continue its service to the people.

Its chairman Dr Jasvinder Singh said the organisation was established about a year ago to help the needy through charity, sports, cultural and health programmes.

“Although the organisation comprised mainly of Sikh members, all our activities benefit people of other races,” he said.

Dr Jasvinder, an ophthalmologist, said the organisation had in the past year conducted 87 health camps in Perak and three camps in Kuala Lumpur.