KUCHING: 62-year-old Nini Chee, known as Makcik Nini, used to be a cleaner before.
One day, she lost her job after a 14-day quarantine. The divorcee with two adult children is now a Hope Place recipient.
She stays with her son, a daily paid labourer, at a rundown shack at Mile 7.
During this year’s Ramadan, she opened a fried noodle food stall at a shoplot at Mile 7.
“Although I’m getting old, I cannot depend on others.
“I need to believe in myself and work hard to survive,” she told Hope Place.
Makcik Nini had to walk for 30 minutes from her house to the stall, including crossing a rickety bridge, while carrying all necessary utensils and ingredients every day.
Other than that, she had to pay RM200 rent per month for the stall and about RM20 to RM30 for fresh ingredients daily.
Due to these, her profit margins were very low, and with very few customers, sometimes she did not make any profits at all and her ingredients would go to waste.
“Life is hard, but I’m still grateful for whatever little I have,” added Makcik Nini.
Apart from that, her shack does not have any electricity or water supply.
Some of the walls are replaced with leftover unwanted wood and her leaking roof is covered with canvas.
According to a statement by Hope Place, it started helping Makcik Nini in 2018 by giving her food aid as well as drinking water.
It added it was greatly encouraged by Makcik Nini’s attitude to life and its challenges. It hopes she will have a better life ahead.
For more information, Hope Place or Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching (PKHK) can be reached at 082-505987.
Its opening hours are from 8 am to 5 pm from Mondays till Fridays and 8 am to noon on Saturdays.
All donations are welcome and receipts will be given upon request.
Public can donate directly to Hope Place’s bank account MBB: 511289001160 or visit to its Facebook page to get the Sarawak Pay / S PAY GLOBAL QR code.
