JOHOR BARU: The Raja Zarith Sofiah foundation in Johor is moving on several fronts to alleviate the effects of the reimposed Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) on the poor and vulnerable in the state.
Having chaired a meeting of her foundation with two other bodies – the Johor Baru District Office and the National Committee for Community Services and Health Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) – the Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah gave instructions that poor schoolgoing children living in low-cost flats in the state capital should not be left to their own devices.
"She has urged us to equip the children with educational toys so that they would be kept busy with beneficial activities," said Velasamy S Pillay, deputy chairman of MRC Johor Baru District.
"Within the ambit of the social distance protocols, we have to arrange that children of the poor are kept gainfully engaged," he said.
Johor is under CMCO from Nov 9 for four weeks, which in turn has compelled schools to close and economic activities reduced.
"Foremost in Her Majesty's mind is how to keep poor children busy with activities during the period of the closure of schools which extends to the end of the year," said Velasamy.
To ease the hardships of the poor, Sunway and MRC had distributed cash aid and goodie bags to families of single mothers and other similarly hard-pressed recipients in the B40 category who are hard hit by the economic slowdown.
"Her Majesty the Permaisuri of Johor always has a soft spot for the poor and she gave RM100 each to 200 families," he said.
90 other beleaguered families – 30 in Mersing and 60 in Segamat – also received goodie bags filled with food items and cash donations.
"Her Majesty The Permaisuri is monitoring the situation of the poor and vulnerable under the current CMCO situation and is inquiring into ways to alleviate their hardship," explained Velasamy.
He said the recipients of the aid from Sunway and MRC were moved by the concern for their welfare and the aid that Her Majesty has channelled to them.
Last week some 200 abjectly poor families in the state received cash aid and goodie bags from the trio of donors – Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor, Sunway and MRC – so that they may enjoy a modicum of Deepavali cheer.
The Festival of Lights will be celebrated by Hindus on Nov 14.
Velasamy said welfare bodies in the state were being sensitised to the plight of the poor by the compassionate gestures emanating from the Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor.
"It's a foundation that has led the non-governmental bodies and other welfare entities to do more to alleviate the suffering of the poor and vulnerable especially in these Covid-19 times," said Velasamy.
He added that the foundation is a beacon for other NGOs to emulate.
