By Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo by Mohd Hasrul Hamdan
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (UPM) – The staff of Universiti Putra Malaysia and two other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) teamed up to provide warm food and drinks to the homeless to break their fast in the city centre here today.
The staff who are from the Association of Administrators and the Social Club of the Marketing and Corporate Communication Department of UPM had organized this “street sahur” as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) with members of Geng Jurnal and Ramlee Awang Murshid Fan Club (RAMFC).
They spent the evening handing out the food and drinks to the homeless living
under the bridges around the Jalan Sultan Sulaiman flyover, Jalan Kinabalu flyover, Jalan Tun Sambanthan flyover, Lebuh Pasar flyover and Jalan Tun Perak flyover.
Head of programme, Ludinata Misnun, said over 30 of their volunteers distributed 500 packets containing food, clothing and other necessities to the homeless.
"The programme received RM5,000 through public donations to buy the food and other necessities, “ he said.
He also urged the community to continue helping the needy and he hoped that such a programme would not only be carried out during the fasting month of Ramadan but also at other time in the future.
Meanwhile, a Bachelor of Engineering student, Raja Mohammed Muzamir Raja Mahdi, 26, said this praiseworthy initiative was well done and it had given him a better understanding of the reality of a homeless.
"Often students are not grateful with what is fed to them. In most cases, we have more than what we need. It has an impact on me to learn about their hardships and I feel really grateful for what I have," he said, after joining the others in handing out the food packets.
His fellow university mate, Mohd Adib Mohd Khalid, 26, a Bachelor of Computer Science (Software Engineering) student said the programme was a way to see life in the city centre.
By coming together to perform the charity, he felt that the bonds between students, the university administration and community at large had been strengthened. .
"Such commendable programmes should be continued not only in Kuala Lumpur but also extended to other areas in order to ensure assistance is well distributed to those in need," he said. – UPM
Nej/lh/kgo
