Human Writes: Helping those hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia


A group of volunteers (in white shirts) handing out food to foreign construction workers in George Town, Penang, in April 2020. Daily wage earners like construction workers who could not work during Malaysia's lockdown period had to depend on handouts to survive. Foreign workers had it especially hard as they are not eligible for government aid. — MUSTAFA AHMAD/The Star

She was only 18 and struggling to survive in Kelantan. Her mother had died, her father had lost his job and there were two younger sisters. She got help to pay the rent, but then the landlord asked for an extra RM1,000 even though they had previously agreed it would be paid in two weeks. He wanted to buy a cow to slaughter for korban (sacrifice) for the villagers for the upcoming Hari Raya Haji festival on July 31, 2020.

“When she refused to pay, he wanted to kick the family out. I had to find the money in two days, ” says Datuk Dr Hartini Zainuddin, founder of Yayasan Chow Kit, a crisis and drop-in centre for children that provides a range of services, including legal, financial, educational and counselling services.

Subscribe now and receive FREE sooka plan for 1 month.
T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Mangai Balasegaram , Covid-19 , economy , poverty

   

Next In Living

The best way to remove red wine stains from anything
People are paddling along the world's waterways picking up trash
Pen lovers celebrate the fine art of writing at the London Pen Show
Do dolphins smile? Yes, according to this study
These senior living facilities are pet-friendly. Here’s why that is important
Top of the world: How Handshake Speakeasy became the world's best bar
Dear Thelma: How can I overcome my fear of trust and build real connections?
Education forges friendships: Could a college education keep loneliness at bay?
Prestige and pain? Getting a PhD can also cause mental health problems
Bees can get stressed too, and when they are, they become less optimistic

Others Also Read