Close
Exit

 

SYED Azmi Alhabshi made waves when he posted a picture of a bag of kuih at a Ramadan bazaar in Johor Baru, with a sign saying “Free kuih! Take some for your family, as well as for your neighbours”. That post got over 12,000 likes and almost 3,500 shares on Facebook.
That was how he got the ball rolling on a local version of the global “suspended meals” movement, which he simply called Suspended Meal.
But to the modest 30-something (he doesn’t disclose his age to the media), this isn’t about fame or Facebook likes. This is about helping people.
“When it comes to trying to make the world a better place, you don’t think – you just do,” he said.
How the movement works is simple: You pay for food at a restaurant or cafe and the establishment keeps it on hand, to be collected by hungry people who are unable to purchase a meal.

During the first week of Ramadan, Syed Azmi posted this picture, of his contribution to the Suspended Meal movement. According to him, the concept of suspended meals has since spread to many bazaars nationwide. Photo from facebook.com/SuspendedMealMY

During the first week of Ramadan, Syed Azmi posted this picture, of his contribution to the Suspended Meal movement. According to him, the concept of suspended meals has since spread to many bazaars nationwide. Photo from facebook.com/SuspendedMealMY

After his post went viral, the concept spread like wildfire, and Syed Azmi was proud to announce it was being implemented at various locations nationwide, from Kota Kinabalu to Rantau Panjang, and even universities like Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
While many might be wary of potential freeloaders abusing the system, Syed Azmi points out that “people in need” are not necessarily poor.
“It could be someone like me or you,” said the pharmacist. “Someone who forgot his wallet and needs a meal. Or someone could take it for somebody else they know who needs the food.”
“Take what you need, that’s how it’s supposed to work.”
The more cynical might shy away from the idea of such blind trust, but thankfully, there’s a new generation of young Malaysians who believe a bit of faith and honesty can make a huge difference.

Related story: Other local suspended meal movements
Starting at home
Syed Azmi wasn’t always a do-gooder. It all started about three years ago, when he moved from his parents’ home in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, to work in Johor Baru.
“I started worrying about them,” he recalled. “I was moving far away. Who was going to take care of my parents if anything happened?”
So, he decided to get to know his neighbours a bit better. They were, after all, the closest ones around, and the most likely to come to his parents’ aid. Along the way, he discovered the importance of a strong link to the community, and after that came the desire to help those around him.

From left: Ahmad Amran (in green T-shirt), Hayati Ismail and Syed Azmi met through their TTDI Residents Association and quickly found they had a similar passion for charity.

From left: Ahmad Amran (in green T-shirt), Hayati Ismail and Syed Azmi met through their TTDI Residents Association and quickly found they had a similar passion for charity.

“Some people come up to me and say they have an idea for charity – they want to help the Rohingya,” he said. “But when I ask them if they are familiar with their own neighbours, they say ‘No’. So I always ask them, ‘Why don’t you start helping around your own community?’ and they have no response.”
He stressed that there’s not much point having grand ideas when you can’t even entertain the thought of lending a hand in your community. “Helping your own community is important, and it can lead to avenues where you can do greater things,” he said.
He has a point.
In fact, it was his involvement with the TTDI Residents Association that led to him meeting and subsequently setting up Rakyat4Rakyat with two friends, Ahmad Amran and Hayati Ismail. Rakyat4Rakyat is a “by the people, for the people” initiative that helps those with ideas find and collaborate with like-minded people.
It doesn’t take much
According to Syed Azmi, what makes people hesitant to contribute to society is the misconception that it takes a lot of money to make anything happen.
“That’s not true at all! Take a look at Suspended Meal,” he said. “You just give as much as you’re able. If you can buy RM200 worth of food, go ahead. But you can still help people and buy food with RM25.” Charity, to Syed Azmi, is not about money, but rather about time, effort and knowledge.
“My friends and I are proof that anybody can do it, with enough effort. We’re not rich,” he said.
“And I know that there are people out there with great ideas. I read R.AGE and I’ve noticed the young generation have good ideas. I’ve even taken inspiration for my projects from some of them!”
To him, Suspended Meal has been a resounding success because people are starting to take food for others in need. That means not only are people taking the time to deliver food to others, they are also actually thinking of others and their needs.
“It’s more than free food,” he said. “It’s about people being kind and genuine.”

About

Literature grad-turned-journalist who loves our R.AGE team karaoke nights a little too much. While her literature background has left her with a slightly twisted sense of humour, it has also given her a passion for writing on social issues.

BTW…

Championing children’s education

Education director-general Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim speaks on the importance of empathy-based education, the challenges of adapting education policies in light of the Covid-19 situation, and her “dream” education system.

Read more Like this post3

I lost my mother to the Japanese war

 Whenever Allied planes bombed Sandakan town as part of its campaign to liberate Borneo, Daniel Chin Tung Foh’s grandfather would rush the whole family into a bomb shelter behind their house.  During its heyday, the British North Borneo Company had developed Sandakan into a major commercial and trading hub for timber, as well as […]

Read more Like this post1

A witness to the Double Tenth revolt

 Chua Hock Yong was born in Singapore, but his grandfather moved the family to British North Borneo (now Sabah) to establish their business in 1939 when he was a year old.  The Japanese invaded Borneo shortly after, but the family continued living in their shophouse in Gaya Street, Jesselton, now known as Kota Kinabalu.  […]

Read more Like this post5

An encounter with victims of the Sandakan Death Marches

 When the Second World War came to Borneo, Pelabiu Akai’s mother moved the family back to their village in Nalapak, Ranau.  Although the Japanese were known to be ruthless and brutal conquerors, they left the villagers to their own devices and Pelabiu had a largely uneventful life – until she came across gaunt-looking Allied […]

Read more Like this post4

Sarawak’s only living child prisoner of war

 Jeli Abdullah’s mother died from labour complications after giving birth to him and his twin brother. To his Bisaya tribe, this was seen as a bad omen, and his father did not know what to do with the twins.  Fortunately, an Australian missionary couple decided to adopt the newborns. But misfortunate fell upon the […]

Read more Like this post3

Lest we forget

AFIO Rudi, 21, had never thought much about his grandfather Jeli Abdullah’s life story until an Australian TV programme interviewed the 79-year-old about being Sarawak’s last surviving World War II child prisoner of war (POW). The engineering student then realised that despite living in Sarawak all his life, he also didn’t know very much of […]

Read more Like this post7

A native uprising against Japanese forces

 Basar Paru, 95, was only a teenager when his village in the central highlands of Borneo was invaded by the Japanese Imperial army.  “The Japanese told us not to help the British. They said Asians should help each other because we have the same skin, same hair,” Basar recalled. “But we, the Lun Bawang […]

Read more Like this post2

Left behind in wartime chaos

 Kadazan native Anthony Labangka was 10 years old when the Japanese Imperial Army invaded Borneo during World War II.  Sitting in the verandah of a modern kampung house on a hot afternoon in Kampung Penampang Proper, where he has lived his whole life, Anthony recalls the hardships of the Japanese Occupation.  The villagers were […]

Read more Like this post2
Kajai R.AGE Wan Ifra Journalism Documentaries Digital Media Awards

R.AGE Audience Survey 2019 + Office Tour contest

Want to be in the running to meet R.AGE producers and journalists? Take part in our R.AGE Audience Survey 2019 by Feb 17, 2019!

Read more Like this post2

The Hidden Cut

Female circumcision is a very common practice in Malaysia, but the procedure is still almost completely unregulated.

Read more Like this post2

#TeamSatpal: Turtle-y in Trouble

The 21st century brings unseen threats to local turtle conservation efforts.

Read more Like this post0

#TeamMayLee: The Point of Being Malaysian

In a modest village situated on the sandy shores of Terengganu, the production of ikan bilis has formed the livelihoods of most families for multiple generations.

Read more Like this post2
Go top