“DON’T let anyone go hungry. Even if we only have a biscuit in hand, give it to the hungry.”
These were the last few words of Datuk Munirah Abdul Hamid, founder of Pertubuhan Tindakan Wanita Islam (Pertiwi) Soup Kitchen, to Mansur, the charity’s cook, before her demise at the age of 70 recently.
It is not often that we come across people like Mother Teresa and Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who devoted their life wholeheartedly to charities.
Munirah was one of those rare few who has dedicated 50 years of her life to charities.
Fondly known as “Datuk” or just “Kak Muni”, Munirah was more than just a successful corporate leader but was also a motherly figure whose relentless pursuit and devotion to feed the poor and unhoused has touched many hearts.
She founded Pertiwi Soup Kitchen in 2010, one of the longest and biggest serving soup kitchens in Malaysia.
But her efforts of feeding the unhoused started even during her childhood, at the tender age of five.
She would often help her mother cut strips of banana leaves to hold the rice pudding, which will be distributed to the poor and unhoused.
As a corporate leader, Munirah and her husband co-founded a few companies, which played a pivotal role in the nation’s electronic toll collection system and other services.
But it was her philanthropy work that won her praises and recognition worldwide.
Her demise has even prompted our Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong to release a heartfelt condolence and tribute to her.
Transformative
I met Munirah in 2020 through my university coursemate, Alex.
I told Munirah that I wanted to be a Pertiwi Soup Kitchen volunteer. She accepted me into the group, with no questions asked.
Perhaps Munirah understood I needed a place to lean on, as I was at my lowest point of my life, being struck by unforeseen tragedies.
Joining Pertiwi Soup Kitchen initially was a way for me to escape depression and the vagaries of life.
But that escapism gradually became a serious devotion to helping the needy.
It was Munirah who opened my eyes and made me realise that there are people who are far worse off than me – the poor and unhoused – and they need help even more than myself.
Since then, I committed to spend at least once a week as a volunteer at Pertiwi Soup Kitchen – this transformed my life and made me happier.
Collaborative
For three years as a volunteer, I personally saw Munirah’s kindness in action.
One of my fondest memories was Munirah ensuring all the volunteers and the unhoused received our vaccinations early.
The pandemic posed a risk to our lives, but Munirah did not want to see the poor and unhoused go hungry. Pertiwi Soup Kitchen remained open even during the pandemic.
In fact, Munirah assisted other soup kitchens to distribute their foods when some of them closed operations or lacked manpower.
We cooked more food on certain days for these soup kitchens.
Munirah did not treat other soup kitchens as competitors but worked hand in hand with them instead to ensure no uneven distribution or lack of food for the unhoused.
Untold stories
According to Pertiwi Soup Kitchen staff Kak Seri and Mansur, Munirah would often go down to the streets and back lanes personally to help the unhoused.
She would call the ambulance to pick up unhoused people who were very ill.
She then paid for their medical bills. She also brought along with her some volunteers to help cut their hair and bathe the unhoused.
“In fact, before she passed away, she had just recently helped an unhoused single father and two kids to find a room, and even paid for their monthly rental.
“She also did this to many other unhoused who needed help,” said Mansur.
Apart from this, Munirah also made sure the children of the poor and unhoused are not deprived of education by providing tuition and even sponsoring their education needs.
In fact, she remembered the names of all the mothers and children, a testament of her devotion.
For Kak Seri, who has to walk with crutches, she said Munirah dropped by the centre a few days before her passing.
“Munirah said I was like her own daughter, and asked me to take care of my legs.
“She brought me a bag full of medicine and fruits. I was foolish not to realise that this was a sign that her time in this world would not be long.”
Munirah kept her long-fought illness to herself. Nobody except a few family members knew she was suffering from stage four cancer, because she always told us that her back pain was due to a serious fall. Munirah did not want all of us to worry about her.
This was a testament of her boundless care and compassion. It was no surprise that she kept telling everyone: “People can forget about me, but they should never forget about the cause and Pertiwi Soup Kitchen.”
Farewell, Datuk, and rest in peace. – The Vibes, September 17, 2023
Francis Yip is a Pertiwi Soup Kitchen volunteer, an accomplished entrepreneur in branding and training, and a social media celebrity often gracing the panel of judges at beauty pageants
