‘SAHUR WITH HOMELESS’: KAK ET’S 16-YEAR DEDICATION TO THOSE IN NEED

IPOH, March 20 (Bernama) -- While orphans, senior citizens and the underprivileged receive generous support and attention during Ramadan, the plight of the homeless often goes unnoticed.

Realising this, Zeti Shuhaila Mustafa Kamal, 53, fondly known as Kak Et, launched the ‘Sahur With Homeless’ initiative to assist this marginalised group.

Now in its 16th year, the programme is sustained by volunteers from diverse backgrounds across Perak.

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“When I was working at a restaurant on Jalan Datuk Onn Jaafar many years ago, I often saw homeless individuals wandering and sleeping there at night. Witnessing their struggles, I felt compelled to help and engage with them.

“Many of them are former drug addicts, social outcasts or ex-prisoners. Without support, they risk falling back into the wrong crowd,” she said when met recently.

Zeti Shuhaila said she started the initiative after noticing that food donations were common for welfare homes, while the homeless were often neglected.

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“I discussed it with close friends and thought, why not provide food for them? I also raised the idea with my employer at the time, knowing they would likely be hungry late at night with no one offering food.

“Back then, the public rarely engaged with the homeless, possibly due to fear or hesitation,” she said.

This year, pre-dawn meals will be distributed every Friday throughout Ramadan, starting at 11.45 pm at several locations around Ipoh.

“However, if non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are already distributing food or aid to the homeless, we will refrain from doing so to avoid wastage,” she added.

The Ipoh native said around 80 to 100 meal packs are distributed weekly, sponsored by companies and individuals.

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Petronas executive Yon Norasyikin Samsudin, 37, who has a passion for volunteerism, said she has been part of the project since university.

“I first joined in Ramadan 2014 after a friend saw Kak Et’s post on social media, and we have participated every year since.

“Previously, many homeless individuals stayed around UTC Ipoh, so we would search every corner of the building to distribute food. But now, they are mostly on the streets,” she said.

-- BERNAMA