Courage, convictions and gratitude often motivate individuals to cross the ethnic and religious divide.
They donate financially or render their services to other religious organisations.
Some do it even though their contributions may not be in line with their own religious beliefs. Instead, empathy drives them. Many desire to help those in need regardless of the recipients’ racial and religious background. Others want to foster interfaith understanding and dialogue.
Some individuals donate to organisations that tackle social injustices, such as poverty, homelessness and human rights violations. They believe these causes transcend racial and religious boundaries and that these causes matter to all members of society.
Religious and social organisations focusing on such issues often receive donations from individuals who wish to create a more just world. The personal experience of individuals working with such organisations across religious lines may also influence people’s willingness to donate to such groups.
Just the other day, an old friend RG called me. He wanted to make a donation to the Catholic Church for the poor. I was not surprised as he had done it before.
RG transferred RM1,000 into my account, which I subsequently transferred into my parish church’s account.
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What makes RG different from others is that he is not a Catholic but a Hindu. On several occasions, he has made donations to the Catholic Church.
Without me asking, he once told me he is eternally indebted to the Catholic Church. Coming from a poor family, RG said his family faced financial constraints, and it was the Catholic Church that always assisted them.
When RG couldn’t afford to pay the fees for his Senior Cambridge exams, someone informed the parish priest of the nearby Catholic Church.
The priest called him over. He not only gave him the exam fees but extra pocket money too.
What impressed RG most was significant. Despite all the help given to his family, there was never any attempt to convert them to Catholicism!
Last year, he donated RM1,250 during a Rawang church’s “B40, Back to School” fundraising campaign. This project helped children from low-income households. His contribution covered the expenses of five schoolchildren from around Rawang.
Another ex-colleague from the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) and friend, Mathi, also a Hindu, donated RM250 for this cause. He had earlier donated RM200 for the building fund of a Catholic church in Puchong.
Both RG, an Aliran member, and Mathi have also donated generously to Aliran at my request.
Then, there is my friend Bala, a member of our HR Seniors Group. He helps less fortunate schoolchildren in a Tamil school in Kuang, Selangor. He works relentlessly and passionately to help and improve this Tamil school, which happens to be his alma mater.
Many people in Malaysia also engage in voluntary work in places like soup kitchens, where they provide food for the less fortunate.
As part of their “Kasih Meals” programme, parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Brickfields, KL occasionally venture beyond their church walls.
They provide lunch boxes to migrant workers and other vulnerable groups in Kuala Lumpur.
Two outstanding Bangsar Park residents, Charles Chew and Elya Abdullah, are actively involved in charitable work.
For many years, Charles has been actively involved in work for the Malaysian Association for the Blind.
Elya helps out regularly at Orphancare, an NGO founded by her late husband Adnan. The organisation finds suitable homes for abandoned babies.
Former Mida director Fadilah Yakin has also been actively involved in the Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped (SSMH) for many years.
Then there are individuals like ex-Mida deputy director general and artist Yeow Teck Chai. He spends much of his time and effort on his countless watercolour paintings.
Teck Chai has sold all these paintings during his art exhibitions. And he has donated practically all the proceeds to the SSMH.
I have always regarded the people of the world as belonging to one race – the human race. People who cross the ethnic and religious divide are exemplary members of society. They are role models whom everyone in Malaysia should emulate.
When I see people like these individuals, it rekindles my admiration for the human race. I believe the human race is made up of many decent human beings of all races and religions.
Many of them contribute through their voluntary service and donations, often anonymously. These are the unsung heroes in our country. They trudge relentlessly without expecting anything in return.
Malaysia is a better country today because of these selfless individuals. These are the towering Malaysians among us who make us proud.
God bless them abundantly for all their noble work.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
The bible says that man was made in the image of God.Indeed these human beings exhibit such godly qualities showing such love with their generosity which gives such hope for humanity.
Spot on Mildred!!!