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

eature By Yap Chai Hoon Translated by Choo Suet Fun Photograph by Bryant Hwong During the movement control order (MCO), Tzu Chi volunteers distributed essential supplies to the residents of PPR Seri Aman in Jinjang Utara, Kuala Lumpur. “I’m a daily wage earner. I have no income for as long as I don’t go to work. Now I’m able to buy some milk powder for my children with the cash vouchers,” confided a woman of Indian ethnicity as she received cash vouchers, face masks and hand sanitizer from a volunteer. She gestured towards the face masks and informed the volunteers that she resorted to tying pieces of cloth over the lower half of her children’s faces in place of face masks, which she found too costly. In a village in Miri, Sarawak, local volunteers encountered a pregnant mother with seven young children. The mother has been unemployed since the commencement of the MCO; she could only afford to feed her children sugared syrup. The above instances offer glimpses into the plight of underprivileged families under the MCO. As many countries around the world struggle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, the Malaysian government implemented the MCO to curb the spread of the virus and launched an economic stimulus package to help Malaysians cope. However, some forms of assistance are beyond the reach of disadvantaged groups due to identification issues. The new practices and concepts that we have grown accustomed to – wearing face masks, frequent hand washing, boosting immunity, practising social distancing – are unattainable luxuries to the underprivileged, not to mention their deplorable living conditions. The contagious nature of the Covid-19 disease has halted us in our tracks and confined us indoors, limiting social interaction and even restricting our movements. Yet, our dedicated frontliners continue to play their part in serving society. Volunteers have also been devoting their time and effort to deliver love and care to those in need, warming the hearts of communities in every corner across the nation. Health Director-General Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah reassured that Malaysia has entered the recovery phase as the daily number of new confirmed cases has been stabilizing at the double-digit level, suggesting that the country is on the right path and that our efforts have been paying off. Hope is ahead of us; even the darkest of nights will come to an end when the sun rises again. 2020 • 05 04