PENANG, 17 July 2014 - “Looking at the participants and volunteers involved tonight is enough to make me feel overwhelmed and I am proud of their sacrifices,” said Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman, at the launching of Pautan Kasih Ramadhan programme at the USM Islamic Centre compound last night.

According to Omar, this programme is held for the second year running under the joint coordination of the Vice-Chancellor Office, Registrar Department, the Student Affairs and Development Division (BHEPP), USM Students Representative Council (MPPUSM) and other departments of USM.

“Let us hope that with the 500 packets of food and drinks distributed to the homeless out there, it will be able to ease their burden as many of them are elderly folks,” he said. 

“Not only the homeless, we also distributed the food and drinks to trishaw riders, families who are waiting for patients at Penang General Hospital as well as the staff who worked night shift.”

Omar added that with the participation of nearly 150 students, including staff and lecturers, and with the presence of all the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, this programme has achieved its objectives.

“I would like to thank all the students, who are willing to sacrifice their semester break by staying back, and help the university by participating in this programme,” he said.

“Indirectly, such programmes can actually create awareness of those who are in need besides cultivating our social skills."

Participants started off from USM Islamic Centre to places such as Padang Kota, Penang Road and Chowrasta Wet Market, identified as those frequented by the homeless. The participants were split into several groups, each headed by Deputy Vice-Chancellors.

A hope to see the homeless having a better life was also shared by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Division of Industry and Community Network (BJIM), Professor Dato’ Dr. See Ching Mey.

“We know as a fact that they do not actually wish for such an unfortunate life, therefore it is our responsibility to help them as best as we can,” See said.

“They are actually in need of attention and love, together with a clean and decent shelter to live because they are also normal people like us," said See who has been involved in many community outreach programmes.

Meanwhile, a vagrant, Kam Kiam, 63, when met at the bus stop near KOMTAR, said that he was grateful for the donation and concern shown by the USM community.

“I’m all alone here while my brother is now staying at Kedah with his family and I do not want to be a burden to him,” he said.

A former mechanic who is a Penangite, he chose to remain around GAMA supermarket because it is near to his former home.

“In the past, there were many who were in the same boat with me, but there are fewer now. It is likely that they have been placed under the care of the Social Welfare Department or having reunited with their family,” the man said.

Asked about his own hope for his future, he just shrugged and said that he hoped to be more organised than it is now.

“I am old and have no special requests except to be happy spending time with my friends around me,” he said. - Translation: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Text: Mohamad Danial Shahri/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa​