Metro

Saturday August 11, 2012

Hotels treat old folks and kids to buka puasa and gifts

By C.S. NATHAN
metro@thestar.com.my
Photo by UU BAN LEONG


HE may be visually-impaired but 62-year-old Latiff Manaff never lets his disability get in the way of a good time.

Tapping his cane to the beat of the music, the resident of an old folk’s home in Seremban enjoyed himself thoroughly during a recent breaking of fast hosted by the Royale Bintang Resort and Spa Seremban.

Latiff was among 35 senior citizens from the Rumah Seri Kenangan who were invited to break fast at the hotel.

The bachelor who has been residing in the old folk’s home for the past two years, said it was the first time he had dinner in a hotel.

“It was truly a special day, I enjoyed the food and the band brought back memories when they played songs from yesteryear.

“It was very kind of the hotel management to host us as we don’t have the opportunity to break fast with our families,” he said.

Never forgotten: Mashor presenting duit raya and goodie bags to the residents of Rumah Seri Kenangan. Never forgotten: Mashor presenting duit raya and goodie bags to the residents of Rumah Seri Kenangan.

Tears flowed freely when hotel employees presented the seniors with goodie bags containing new sarong and duit raya.

Wheelchair-bound Fatimah Idris, 87, expressed her gratitude to the hotel employees for showering the seniors with care and attention.

“Most of us have lived at the home for years and we rarely get visitors, even our relatives hardly visit.

“It brings tears to my eyes to think that there are still people who care for us,” she said.

Hotel general manager Mashor Din said hosting the underprivileged to a buka puasa meal at the hotel was an annual affair.

“We chose to host the residents of Rumah Seri Kenangan this year after a visit to the home.

“It saddened us to see the old folks abandoned by their own families and we wanted to do something special for them,” he said.

Some 180 hotel employees also joined in the buka puasa meal with the seniors, adding to the merriment.

In Port Dickson, the Lexis Hotel Group treated 50 children from Rumah Lindungan Kasih Yakin Tampin to a buka puasa meal.

The children aged between two and 17 were taken on a tour of the hotel and got the chance to try out recreational facilities like the Segway Obstacle Course and archery range at the Grand Lexis PD.

The experience was truly memorable and the children enjoyed themselves so much their caretakers had a hard time coaxing them to take a break.

After the call to prayer, the children were treated to a buffet spread of traditional dishes such as bubur lambuk, gulai ikan nenans, rendang ayam, lemang and a variety of cakes and pastries.

Lexis Hotel Group operations vice-president Tiu Kwe Yee and hotel general manager Chan Hon Ming presented the children with duit raya and goodie bags after dinner.

Tiu said the event was part of the hotel’s corporate social responsibility effort to bring cheer to the less fortunate.

“It makes it all worthwhile when we see the children with smiles on their faces. At least we know, we’ve done our part to bring joy to their lives,” he said.

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