KUALA LUMPUR: Making use of her Twitter account, New Straits Times journalist Hana Naz Harun posted a news article about a single mother at her apartment in dire need of help after losing her job.
"In the tweet, I asked those who wish to contribute to contact me as I would be getting some food necessities for single mother Kak Siti (Suzanne Anton) and her children.
"I managed to collect about RM700 in cash from friends who wished to chip in as well as in kind. I bought some non-perishable goods and delivered them to Kak Siti at home."
Hana said she first found out about Kak Siti's plight from a fellow journalist who interviewed the latter recently.
"I felt really bad for Kak Siti knowing that she's a single mother with five children.
"And knowing that this is happening in the same block where I live.
"Times are tough for everyone. Since my friends and I have some money to spare, we thought we should just share our rezeki and help out however we can."
She hoped that others would also play their role in the society by helping others, however small the contribution.
"It's not so much about the amount of money or food aid. The act of kindness also lets them know that there are people who still care about them."
Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the problem boiled down to the fundamental issue of economy, which saw many badly hit during the pandemic.
He said the situation worsened as more businesses wound down, resulting in retrenchment of workers who eventually sought help from the public to survive.
"The current situation, with the white flag campaign going on, is a lesson to the government to get rid of the red tape and bureaucracy in sending aid.
"People who are in trouble get assistance faster when they raise a white flag. Otherwise, they would have to wait for a long time for help to reach them," said Lee.