Bayan Baru’s Deepavali cheer

Fifteen families from Sim Flat, Bayan Baru received 5kg rice each and a small token sum in a Deepavali programme yesterday.

Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Sim Tze Tzin handed out the goodies during the programme, which was organized by the Jawatankuasa Kecil Kampung (JKKK), Jalan Tengah.

“I have set aside RM5000 for this Deepavali programme. We started this programme last year and it will continue to be a yearly event,” said Sim.

The selection process for the recipients is based on recommendations made by the JKKK.

“These are poor people and we just want to help lighten their burden during this festive season,” said Subramanian A/L Semhasalan, 49, a committee member of the Bayan Baru Keadilan branch, and co-organizer of the event.

Earlier in Kawasan D of Sungai Nibong, Sim also handed out hampers worth RM60.00 to thirty poor families.

Murugesu A/L Muniandy, 46, who is the village head of the JKKK at Sg. Nibong revealed that the hamper consisted of a bag of 5kg rice, sugar, bread and a tin of Milo.

About 150 people from the village were then treated with dinner.

“I have been the village headman for 17 years now, and I feel we have to help the poor people here,” said Murugesu, who is also the chairman of the newsvendor association.

“Out of the 30 families who received the hampers, 5 were Chinese and 2 were Malay,” he added, noting that Keadilan was a multiracial party.

Murugesu also said that plans were underway to set up a service centre for the community in Sg. Nibong and that they managed to recruit 100 new members for the Bayan Baru division yesterday.