The world of Tzu Chi April 2021 (Vol.133)

TZU CHI 133 09 offer study programmes in social work, why are many people, especially the Chinese community, still unfamiliar with it? The root of the problem is that the social work structure in Malaysia started from the government system, in which there is a lower proportion of Chinese community involvement. Therefore, people’s understanding of social work is relatively limited. Furthermore, when our Chinese ancestors came to Southeast Asia to seek a living, Malaya was ruled by the British government, and neither the education nor medical system was perfect. Therefore, due to their blood relations and geographical ties, many Chinese would spontaneously assist their poor and sick folks, which was then the spirit of good-neighbourliness and clan solidarity in practice. In the old days, relatives and family would help one another without obligation. In terms of education, the Chinese community also raised money to run schools. It became a culture of the Chinese community to help the disadvantaged voluntarily. For example, Tung ShinHospital andHospital LamWahEe,which were founded by Chinese predecessors, were originally charity hospitals. It was only later that they gradually become private hospitals, charging a fee in response to changes in times. In 2020, during the movement control order (MCO) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many social organizations raised money and supplies to help the poor, continuing the Chinese community’s culture of helping people voluntarily. After nightfall, downtown Kuala Lumpur is no longer filled with people but human warmth. Picture shows Tzu Chi volunteers shuttling through the streets to distribute supplies and extend care to the homeless on the eve of Chinese New Year in 2016. [Photo by Leong Chian Yee]