The B40 community in Penang were given a boost in conjunction with the up-coming “Festival of Light” when two non-governmental organisations joined hands to distribute food baskets and cash disbursement.
The initiative was also supported by the office of the Chief Minister of Penang YAB Chow Kon Yeow, State Exco for Infrastructure and Transport, YB Zairil Khir Johari, Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera, YB Wong Hon Wai, state assemblywoman for Sungai Pinang, Lim Siew Khim, Tan Sri Ramesh (Light Hotel), Amy Khaw & friends, Renee & friends, Shree Muneswarar Temple Waterfall Penang Food Aid, Lotus’s Tanjung Pinang, Lotus’s E-Gate Penang, Giri Ashram, Syarikat Rempah Jaya Sakti, Somasundram and family, Gopal Krishan Kidarnath, Sivam Caterers, Buzzworks Sdn. Bhd, Alagappa’s Raja Kari Malaysia, Sivam Caterers among others.
Representing the CM was Pengkalan Kota assemblyman, Daniel Gooi.
Lending support at the presentation ceremony was the Member of Parliament for Jelutong RSN Rayer, MBPP councillor R. Kaliyappan, Lotus Store Manager, Devarajan, Lotus Tanjung Pinang Section Manager, Hanafi, ASP S.Satia Narayanan along with Penang Hindu Association (PHA) advisors, Dato A.Vamadevan, Dato S. Selapan among others.
The corporate social responsibility project was organised by the PHA and Klinik Derma Sivasanta (KDS) who have been actively helping the B40 community throughout the pandemic.
Deepavali celebrations have been restricted for the past two years due to the pandemic. Many still have not recovered from the traumatic experience that had left so much health and financial implications on the general public.
During the handing over ceremony, the recipients were reminded to be thrifty and frugal in their celebrations so as to not impact their daily livelihood. it was found that many had resorted to borrowing money to celebrate the occasion.
PHA and KDS also warned against complacency on this issue as poor families are still experiencing hardships and finding difficulty in coping with this time of the year.
Some 150 hardcore poor were presented with deepavali goodies and cash token of RM50 each while the children were given RM5 each. Those who were unable to attend had their goodies delivered to them.
PHA and KDS also assist those having cancer and kidney dialysis patients with financial difficulties to give them a second chance to live. They also help students with their education expenses regularly.
Such CSR activities are also carried out during Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Christmas celebrations for the B40 group.
