KUALA LUMPUR, 13 July: Malaysian Youth Solidarity (SAMM) continues to reach out to the urban poor who are homeless in the Sahur with the Homeless programme early this morning.
The programme, which has entered its fifth year, involves the distribution of 700 packs containing rice and side-dishes, cream buns, boxed drinks, mineral water, slippers, blankets, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, and a total of two four-wheeled trucks filled with clothing donated by the public.
The Coordinator of SAMM, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, said that the programme was held to raise awareness about the people who are neglected and marginalised in the economic progress of the country.
“In the first year, there were no more than 10 people with very limited contribution.
“At the time, our goal was to attract the attention of the people, especially the youth, on how, in the economic greed of capitalism, some people have been left behind and marginalised.
“We want urge for the authorities to pay special attention to this issue with the message that everyone has the right to access food,” he told Selangor Kini as soon as the programme was completed around the vicinity of the capital of Kuala Lumpur last night.
Badrul Hisham added that there has been a significant increase in public awareness this year when his group bumped into various other groups carrying out the same activity.
“This fifth year, it has become a reality when we bumped into many groups doing the same thing, including the Umno group which previously ignored this issue,” he added.
Badrul Hisham urged for such programmes to continue and not just be seasonal.
The programme which started at 12.00 am and ended at 2.30am drew the participation of about 100 SAMM activists and volunteers consisting of friends on SAMM’s Facebook page.
The group was divided into eight groups and they walked around the entire area.
Volunteers involved also celebrated the Sahur with Nasi Lemak packets and mineral water at Dataran Merdeka after the programme ended.
Throughout the Ramadan this year, SAMM has carried out over 60 assistance programmes in various forms, like gotong-royong (working together) to clean the houses of poor senior citizens.
SAMM also managed over RM100,000 in Zakat funds and donations to be distributed to the needy who have been dropped from the list as recipients of welfare assistance.
NS