by BERNAMA

IPOH  — Concerned over the plight of the those badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, a trader has chipped in to help them by offering free food stuff which can be obtained at a special tent set up in Taman Meru Perdana here.

The food items available included chicken, tilapia fish and eggs, which are bought using public donations raised online by Al-Ghina Enterprise founder Mohd Fariq Izwan Md Bahrin.

“The proceeds from this fund raising are are use to buy food stuff for those in need, who do not have to register to get the. They just need to come to the tent to collect them,” he said when met by Bernama.

He said the initiative would be continued at different locations.

As for those with transportation problems and in poor health condition, the food aid would be sent to them, he added.

Mohd Fariq, 38, a volunteer when the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) was imposed in the city, said he worked in collaboration with religious teachers at the Ipoh District Office and a non-governmental organisation, Perak Muslim Entrepreneurs (UMP), to ease the burden of those who lost their job and suffered loss of income during this difficult time.

A check by Bernama found that people started queuing as early as 4.30 pm to get food at the tent, although the distribution was carried out an hour later, and in compliance with the prescribed standard operating procedures (SOP).

Among those in the queue was Aazizah Husin, 51, from Jelapang Baru, said the food aid helped ease her family burden, as as few of her family members had lost their jobs.

“Thank you to all concerned for this contribution,” she said.

A former security guard, Kamarul Zaman Idris, 56, who lives with his children in Meru Perdana, said he was grateful for the assistance.

“More of this initiative should be carried, especially in the current situation,” he added.