The world of Tzu Chi May 2020 (Vol.122)

TZU CHI 122 29 Passing the Baton of Environmental Awareness Leng Siew Ching has been committing himself to recycling efforts for the past eight years; the practice has now become an essential part of his life. [Photograph by Lee Siew Kuan] residents passed on one after another, only 40 or so occupants are currently left in the ward. The ageing residents no longer possess the vigour and agility to collect recyclables, yet persevered in their recycling efforts nonetheless. Siew Ching still mourns the demise of his close friend Low Sek San, who passed away at the age of 91 on February 8, 2020. The late Sek San pioneered recycling initiatives within the ward, but he sustained a fall in 2018 which left him mentally disoriented. His speech became unintelligible. Prior to the debilitating fall, Sek San’s involvement in recycling work was hindered by impaired mobility following the amputation of both his legs and declining health. From then on, Siew Ching took over Sek San’s responsibilities as the person-in-charge of the ward’s recycling efforts in order to alleviate the latter’s burden. For the past few years, Siew Ching has been collecting cardboard scraps during his walks around the ward’s compound. He would fold the cardboard into a compact size for storage to avoid obstructing the corridor. “I now lack the vigour and strength to gather as many recyclables as Sek San’s time, when the collected recyclables culminated in sizeable loads,” recalled Siew Ching. His voice was tinged with admiration and nostalgia for the late 90s, a time when recycling activities thrived in the ward. No turning back Sek San is a familiar face to volunteer Tang Shook Lin, who had been extending care to the settlement’s residents besides transporting recyclables from the settlement from 1997 to 2004. When Shook Lin was first acquainted with Sek San, the latter was usually reserved and guarded his past closely. Shook Lin recounted that Sek San, who initiated recycling efforts in the ward in late 1997, was admitted to the settlement upon contracting leprosy at the age of 12. After his condition had stabilized, he spent some time recuperating in the Pulau Jerejak leprosy colony and settled in a fishing village upon recovery. In his 30s, he relocated back to the Sungai Buloh settlement and had been residing there since. His eyesight subsequently began to deteriorate, necessitating a cornea surgery. However, he only managed to regain vision in his left eye, which was operated on. He went blind in his right eye due to delayed treatment. According to Shook Lin, Sek San was brash in speech, yet diligent at heart. Back then, the enterprising Sek San attempted