KUCHING: The underprivileged and disadvantaged groups in Kuching are not excluded from the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration’s spirit of sharing.
The Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Ministry, together with its related agencies, Kuching South City Council (MBKS), the Society for Urban Poor (SKUP), and the Kuching Bring It On Association, have spread early CNY cheer to the urban poor group, homeless, as well as those from old folks’ homes.
When met by reporters, its minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, said that the Chinese would usually have a family reunion dinner on the eve of the new year.
However, she noted that some people might not be able to do so due to their circumstances, which could include, among other things, living far from their families.
“Because we know that some of you lack the resources or the ability to host a reunion dinner, we are hosting this programme.
“We are also inviting the lion dance troupe to perform today, especially for our guests,” she said at the CNY celebration at the Kuching Community Social Support Centre (CSSC) here today (Jan 21).
The event was a component of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative for selected groups in the city, which was sponsored by an anonymous donor.
Elaborating further, Fatimah said some of the donations were given to SKUP and the Kuching Bring It On Association in order to continue helping those in need in the Kuching area.
SKUP, she said, is one of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that makes an effort to provide the urban poor with at least one meal a day.
For the record, one of the target groups for the programme was the urban poor, which included Rumah Seri Kenangan inhabitants as well as KMC flats residents.
During the event, ang pows were also distributed to the underprivileged and needy groups so they may celebrate the CNY.
Also present was MBKS mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng.
