Thomas Tan
With Chinese New Year just around the corner, the needy senior citizens of Kampung Cempaka New Village in Petaling Jaya were not forgotten as 300 of them received goodie bags from the Yuen Leong Sing Fatt Temple.at the presentation ceremony held at the basketball court opposite the temple in Jalan PJU 1/34 recently.
They were all smiles and very happy after receiving a 5-kg bag of rice, other groceries and daily items such as sugar, flour, instant noodles, sardine and biscuits. The senior folks were also treated to a luncheon of porridge and fried meehoon cooked by volunteers and free flow of hot and ice-cooled coffee drinks sponsored by Indocafe.
“This is our fifth year doing this for senior citizens aged 65 and above living in Kampung Cempaka. We want to respect and recognize them by getting them to come out to join our activity,” said master Loke Moon Hoong of Yuen Leong Sing Fatt Temple.
“We are also giving a grand dinner feast and “ang pows” to these 300 recipients on 31st January 2012 which is the ninth day of Chinese New Year, to be held in this basketball court.
According to Loke, there are more than 7,000 residents staying in the new village and every year for the past five years they had been giving out goodies to about 300 senior folks in the new village.
“I would like to thank all the donors of the grocery items. We would continue the annual event and we hope more donors and sponsors would chip in so that we can give to more recipients.”
The event started with a group of women on stage entertaining the elderly guests with a rhapsody of Chinese New Year songs.
Present at the event were temple president Lee Mun Hoong, temple advisers Dr Wong Sai Hou, Kho Poh Eng and Lim Choon Kin who distributed the goodie bags.
Also in attendance were MCA Petaling Jaya Utara (PJU) division chairman Yeo Ing King and Section 21 SEA Park Residents Association chairman Gan Keng.
“This is like a one-village reunion once a year before the Chinese New Year. It’s a good thing for the temple to get the elderly men and women above 65 years to come out to give them some goodies and an early cheer. The idea is to shower them with happiness first and the rest of the year will be alright,” said temple adviser, Wong who is also the Petaling Jaya Utara federal development coordinator.
“For this year, we are coming out with 300 goodie bags under the federal development coordinating department for them to take home.”
The contented smiles on the faces of the senior citizens could be clearly seen as the senior citizens received their goodie bags.
Among the recipients was 80-year old Lee Tuck Moi who came alone said she was happy and thankful to the donors for the gifts.
A recipient Pritam Singh, 68, taxi driver, who came with his wife Serendar Kaur, 63, said they had been staying in Kampung Cempaka since 1973.
“This is good as they care for the old people. We feel proud. In the early days nobody cared enough for the elderly,“ said Pritam whose 80-years old mother-in-law stays with him. Their only child had grown up and is not staying with them.
His wife Serendar said: “All our neighbours are Chinese. They are very friendly. We have no problems like robbery. It is very safe and we take care and look after one another.“
“Of course it would be better if we can get free medical aid,” said Serendar.
Recipients Raman A/L Mookan, 73, and his wife Thayamah A/P Muniandy, 65, who have been staying in Kampung Cempaka for 45 years said every Chinese New Year makes them happier because the household essential items they received will help relieve their financial burden.
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