GEORGE TOWN – Public donations for charity organisations have dropped recently, making it more challenging for groups such as the Penang Hindu Association (PHA) to provide aid for the needy.
PHA president P. Murugiah said the number of families in need of daily essentials has increased more than tenfold compared to before the pandemic.
He added that PHA has 200 needy families on its list but aid is being provided on a rotation basis to help 60 to 65 families each month due to lack of funds.
“Public donations have reduced significantly in the past few months. However, this endemic transition proves to be more difficult for the urban poor as the cost of living has increased and those retrenched, sick and bedridden cannot get back to work.
“We have received calls from old folks’ homes and orphanages asking for help as donations for them have decreased since the 2020 movement control order,” he told The Vibes.
He also revealed that PHA received a letter from a national primary school appealing for dates to be contributed, to be distributed as Hari Raya gifts to students.
He added that the association then appealed for donors and received 40kg of dates, 400 food containers, gloves as well as canned sardines.
PHA also distributed Hari Raya goodie hampers, cash aid and first-aid kits to four hardcore poor Muslim families.
Murugiah hopes that other NGOs and government bodies will continue to look into issues that plague the urban poor.
“In the meantime, we will continue providing aid to the needy. We can’t stop, and we won’t stop.” – The Vibes, April 26, 2022
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