The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.109)

TZU CHI 109 39 Reported by Tan Kim Hion Translated by Chia Wen Fang Photographs by Lim Chin Shein ouching Life Story Chong Siew Foong, who lives in solitude, has never slept on a proper bed for the past 30 years. Now, he eagerly sat himself beside volunteer Siew Yoon Choi on the edge of his new bed, giving a “thumbs up” gesture while enthusing, “This is the happiest day of my life!” I nMay 2017, after receiving a distress call fromChong Siew Foong to the Tzu Chi KL & Selangor branch, volunteer Siew Yoon Choi, along with a team of fellow volunteers, visited Uncle Chong’s living quarters. Uncle Chong lives in a small room on the second floor of one of the shophouses located within the vicinity of the Pudu wet market. When the team of volunteers first peered into Uncle Chong’s room, they were shocked to see the room overwhelmed with clutter, leaving barely any space for manoeuvre. Thevolunteers soon learnt fromUncleChong that hewas born in Hong Kong and migrated to Malaysia with his father at a young age. He subsequently made frequent trips between Restoring Brightness and Cleanliness for Comfortable Living