THERE is no Merdeka Day parade this year because of Covid-19 but the pandemic has shown which are the things that have enduring value.

The year so far, which has been spent under movement restrictions for the most part, has seen Malaysians from different walks of life pool resources to help the needy affected by the movement-control order (MCO) and the loss of income as the pandemic wreaks havoc on the economy.

The Malaysian Insight spoke to several of them, individuals and civil society groups, who give fresh meaning to “unity in diversity”, as Malaysia marks the 63rd year of independence from British rule under the shadow of the coronavirus.

1. Pushparani Thilaganathan, MIMICARE adviser

MIMICARE has been helping children and mothers from the B40 and B20 communities in Kapar, Klang, since 2017.

Pushparani, 58, said there are 60 families in its database for Kapar who were in dire straits during the MCO.

But they soon found that their help was needed beyond Klang.

“In the initial 10 days, we were overwhelmed with pleas for basic necessities from them and additionally from the Sri Lankan and Rohingya refugees in the area. 

“We also received appeals from Sabah and Sarawak.”

The group started its emergency food basket programme on March 22. Each basket comprised rice, sugar, lentils, milk, oil, noodles, salt, biscuits, flour and eggs. They also distributed infant formula and nappies.

“These baskets went to Malaysian and refugee families in Kapar, Meru, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Sentul, Puchong, Rawang, Batu Caves, Seremban and Lawas in Sarawak.”

The organisation also distributed 2,580 meal packets. 

Pushparani, who a freelance editor, said family, friends, and MIMICARE members donated the funds to buy the basic necessities.

“We also received support from friends in Bank Negara Malaysia’s volunteer team, Masaala Wheels and Kechara Soup Kitchen.  

“It was painful to see the desperation of families. There was one family I met who had not eaten for two days because they lived far away from any meal pick-up points.”

This Merdeka, Pushparani said she is proud to be a Malaysian.  

“Political drama aside, we are a community who care about each other and Covid-19 saw people rally together to help. 

“We didn’t care about who, where, or what the issue was. Our only concern was to help others and to reach as many stranded families as we could.”

2. Ahmad Azhraii Ahmad Kamal and wife, Saadah Baharudin

Azhraii, 40, said the pandemic affected many families in Kg Baharu, Pahang.

“Kampung folk mostly rely on a daily wage. This pandemic really hit them hard as they don’t have enough savings and they weren’t sure whether their job would still be available or not after the MCO. 

“The money they have is barely enough for essentials. So, we decided to help,” said the IT consultant.

He and Saadah, 39, procured supplies from farmers unable to sell their vegetables because of logistics and transportation problems in the early days of the MCO when interstate travel was prohibited.

“We bought a few kilos from them and distributed the vegetables to the kampung folk. 

“We also helped a local chicken dealer by purchasing chickens from them. We then expanded our assistance to another kampung nearby.”

The couple started out using their own funds to buy supplies but after posting about their activities on Twitter, family members began to donate.

Azhraii said he was proud that Malaysians came together to help each other.

“Helping others is not hard. Just start with what you have. We started at just RM50. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so planning is also essential. We gave them what they need so there isn’t any wastage.

“This is also where the government needs to buck up and bridge the gap between the classes.”

3. Ayman Syaaban Azahari, chicken rice seller

Kuantan resident Ayman runs a chicken rice shop with his uncle. Together, during the MCO, they provided food supplies to 1,778 households in Beserah and Kuantan.

“We gave close to 8,000 packets of chicken rice to the homeless and urban poor of Kuantan. 

“Initially, we only focused on needy people from our kampung in Beserah, who are mainly fishermen, daily wage-earners, single mothers, elderly and orphans,” said the 36-year-old.

Ayman then received a request from a friend working with transgender rights group SEED, who asked him for help with the minority community in Kuantan.

“It was then we expanded our initiative to assist the trans community, sex workers, homeless, migrants, refugees, and urban poor folks of Kuantan as well.”

He found the whole episode an emotional one when seeing the surprise and gratitude from the recipients. 

Ayman said he wanted those who received help to know that the aid can from ordinary Malaysians like him.

“I made sure to tell all the recipients that the food they received was from the people, and not the ruling class, political elites or any political party.”

Reflecting on Merdeka Day this year, Ayman said the pandemic had shown him that Malaysian truly care about each other.

“When the ruling class was busy fighting for power and position, the people stood together in solidarity.”

4. Natasha Zulaikha, University of Nottingham PhD student 

The 24-year old said while other groups are concentrating their effort to help those in the urban area, she focused her energy on helping the Bateq Orang Asli in Pahang. 

“We used funds donated from people, some of whom are my friends and others I don’t know because I just posted about the needs on my social media. Random people kept on donating.”

Natasha, who works with tiger conservation group MyCat, began a social-media campaign called “a ringgit for our rimau”, in reference to the Malay word harimau for tiger, which the Bateq help to protect as part-time forest rangers working for MyCat.

“The overall experience was really beautiful to me because it was humbling. I posted daily on my social-media accounts that I was collecting money to help the Bateq, and people responded.”

Her Merdeka Day thought is how everyone regardless of race can help each other, even with whatever little they have to contribute.

“So, this clearly proves that we are united and the pandemic has strengthened our bond. If you feel the desire to help, just do it.”

5. Angel Food Bank founder Michelle Yap

Yap’s Angel Food Bank has been helping needy families around the Klang Valley since the beginning of the MCO in March. 

“They are daily wage-earners. Without a salary, they cannot feed their families. 

“We stepped in to help, with funds and donations from food suppliers, friends, and our own company’s charity fund.”

Angel Food Bank also helped refugees isolated during the MCO. The strict MCO rules only allowed one person to leave the house to purchase food or for medical emergencies.

“When one is kind-hearted, one will understand that unity helps our country to develop and be stable,” said Yap on what Merdeka Day amid the coronavirus pandemic means.

She said all ethnic groups should unite and respect each other’s status and wellbeing.

“In our group, we work as a team regardless of race. I often remind them, that we should respect people from different races and there should be no racial discrimination, as we are all one unit.”

6. Khairunnisa Mohd Rawi, Malaysian Youth Advocates for Gender Equality (MYAGE)

Khairunnisa, 23, said MYAGE helps poor families and migrants.

“We did a lot of donation drives and provided essentials for them to survive. 

“The aid provided could last for a month or more. We also did awareness programmes where we go to migrant communities to teach the children about using sanitiser and wearing masks.”

She felt the MCO showcased the unity of Malaysians helping one another regardless their race or position.

MYAGE also focused on helping migrant communities because many other groups were already helping needy Malaysians.

This Merdeka, Khairunnisa said despite the political chaos and a change of government before the pandemic, people still managed to come together to help others.

7. Hunger Hurts marketing director Sara Hamidah Mazlen

Hunger Hurts was established in 2016 with a focus on helping the homeless.

Sara, 24 said the MCO saw the group expand its help to families whose breadwinners lost their jobs because of the pandemic.

“We helped 58 families in the Klang Valley by providing financial aid and essentials.”

The pandemic showcased the generosity of Malaysians, as Hunger Hurts exceeded its initial target of raising RM25,000 and raised RM35,700 instead.

“After giving out aid to the families, we gave the remaining money to those who had larger families. Some had seven children to feed, so they needed extra groceries.”

Another 133 families nationwide also received funds and essentials.

This Merdeka, Sara said she felt touched having seen and experienced Malaysians coming together to help others.

“It was super heartfelt. I feel really good. Malaysia is truly something and I’m so proud to be Malaysian because of this.” – August 31, 2020.