KUCHING: Non-governmental organisation (NGO), IKRAM Sarawak, has organised a charitable initiative to assist ‘asnaf’ (underprivileged) and ‘mualaf’ (converts) in obtaining clothing for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The programme aims to ease the burden of those who are financially disadvantaged in preparing for the festive season.
According to Hadijah Ahmad, a representative from IKRAM Sarawak, the clothing distributed through this initiative was collected from public donations within the community here.
“We spread the word to the public, encouraging them to donate clothing that is still in good condition but no longer in use,” she said.
To ensure that the donated clothing is suitable for use, the organisers conducted a screening process before distributing them to recipients.
“We carefully filter through the donations before distribution because we want to provide the best for those in need,” she added.
The two-day programme, held on March 8-9 at Dewan Masyarakat Kampung Pinang Jawa, Gita, here received an overwhelming response, not only from city folks but also residents from surrounding areas such as Samarahan.
In addition to the pre-loved clothing initiative, IKRAM Sarawak also runs other welfare programmes, including the ‘Back to School’ initiative, and assistance for children with vision impairments by providing spectacles.
“We collaborate with opticians to offer aid to those in need,” Hadijah explained.
IKRAM Sarawak hopes that more people will support the pre-loved clothing concept by donating garments that are still in good condition.
This charitable initiative is also being conducted in other districts across Sarawak, such as Bintulu and Sibu, with hopes of expanding to more areas in the future.
Recipients expressed their gratitude for the assistance, including Abizarus Abang, 48, a beneficiary from Kampung Bako.
“I am truly grateful for a programme like this. Sometimes, in a year, I can only afford to buy one set of Raya clothing.
“With this help, I now have an extra outfit for the second or third day of Hari Raya,” he said.
He also acknowledged that this initiative has helped ease his financial burden in preparing for the celebration.
“The clothes given are in good condition, as if they have only been worn once or twice,” he added.
Among the beneficiaries was 59-year-old Dayang Laila Awang Jamali, who expressed her gratitude for the donation.
“I am so grateful. We simply cannot afford it, especially with the rising cost of living.
“My husband is unemployed, and I can only earn around RM15 to RM20 per day by helping a friend sell ‘kuih-muih’.
“I also take care of my four grandchildren, one of whom has special needs and attends a special education school. Their mother is married and living in the peninsular, so I am responsible for looking after them here.
“I came to this programme accompanied by my grandchild, who is always by my side.
“If I had to buy clothing, I wouldn’t be able to afford it. There’s the cost of fabric and tailoring, which has become even more expensive.
“This is my first time receiving such assistance because I couldn’t make it yesterday as I was selling ‘kuih’ at the Ramadan bazaar. This support is truly helpful in preparing for Hari Raya,” she said.
Another recipient, 52-year-old Salmah Abdullah, also expressed her happiness and appreciation for the aid she received.
“I am very thankful to those who contributed because this truly helps with our Raya preparations. This is also my first time receiving such assistance.
“Yesterday, I couldn’t make it as the programme ended at noon, and I was still at work,” she said.
Salmah hoped that more people will come forward to help those in need in the future.
“This is not just for personal benefit but also for those who are less fortunate, such as the elderly, single mothers, and those without transportation to collect donations.
“I myself came from Petra Jaya and would love to participate in such programmes again in the future,” she added.
