LABIS: A local NGO that has been providing smart phones to poor students for their online studies is appalled that people have posed as “needy” to get the devices for free.

       Pertubuhan Kebajikan Jiwa president Datuk Tan Lek Khang said to date, his NGO had provided about 400 such devices to students around Labis and Chaah.

       “Some of those who were asking for the aid come from well-to-do backgrounds, live in big houses and own big cars.

       “Nowadays, I try to go and meet each recipient first before giving out the device,” he said, adding that he had been providing the devices to students from the national and vernacular schools in the district.

       “One family that I helped was a single mother with five children. She only had one phone, so each day, only one child attended online classes.

       “For this family, I provided two devices to help ease her burden,” he said, adding that his NGO spent some RM100,000 for the initiative to help the students.

       Tan said he was concerned that many students were unable to attend classes since last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       “For me, education is very important. Over the past two years, it has been very tough for many students especially the poor and needy,” he said, while hoping that more NGOs would take up the initiative to provide devices to students to help them in their studies.

       Asked how the pandemic has affected the people here, Tan, 36, said many were jobless and finding it hard to make ends meet.

       “During the first movement control order, we started getting many calls from people requesting for aid.

       “We then started a food bank known as Kotak Rezeki in Labis that provided basic provisions.

       “I am grateful to all members, friends and donors who have helped us with the project since last year,” he said, adding that each month, they would provide at least 1,000 food aid boxes.

       He said that sometimes, people from Kota Tinggi also came to get the provisions which included rice, cooking oil, sardines, baked beans, milk, Milo, biscuits and instant noodles.

       “We help anyone regardless of race or religion. However, the recipients must be locals,” Tan said, adding that his NGO with over 100 members had been operating for three years now.

       On what prompted him to start an NGO, Tan said he lived a comfortable life until he was 15 when his father lost a huge sum of money after being cheated by a business partner.

       “We had to borrow money from relatives and sell our vehicles.

       “I experienced hardship in the past and promised myself that one day, if I am successful, I will help others in need,” he said, adding that it took his family at least 10 years to settle the family’s debts.

       Tan, who is dealing in the keropok business, said their next project was to have a fleet of cars to send and pick up local folk to government clinics for treatment.

       “Since the start of this initiative a month ago, we have sent almost a dozen to the vaccination centres.

       “Many are senior citizens staying alone while their children work elsewhere.

       “So without proper transport, many of them are unable to keep to their clinic appointments,” he said.

       Those in need of the service in Labis can contact the NGO hotline at 011-1113 0026.