RTB reaches out to the needy

Radio Televisyen BRUNEI (RTB) held its annual Jalinan Kasih project yesterday to help those in need during the holy month of Ramadhan as part of the radio department's social obligation. This year RTB has selected different homes with different situations from all four districts.

"Officials from the Radio Services Department have also surveyed the houses of those mentioned to confirm the situation they are facing," said Hjh Zalinar Hj Abdullah, head of the radio department.

The purpose of the project according to Hjh Zalinar, was that this organising committee is to create the awareness among the public about the less fortunate and that this project donates to the needy regardless of race or religion.

Yesterday, they visited three houses in the Brunei-Muara district and donated rice, sugar, kuih raya and drinks.

Awang Kadir, a 70 plus year old man from Kampong Burong Pingai, burst into tears upon receiving his donation. He is an ex-worker of the Marine department, dependent entirely on his old age pension and the poor aid fund every month.

He has six children, most of whom are married and employed but all of them have to take care of their own families. He receives about $500 per month which was just enough for the bare daily necessities but times could be rough when it's time to pay the bills.

This radio department's initiative, planned from early January until August this year, was to collect donations and sponsors.

At Kampong Lambak Kiri, the committee visited an Chinese elderly man and his handicapped daughter. Tan Chian Chinn, now 93 years old, used to work for the Bolkiah cinema theatre at Bandar Seri Begawan as a cleaner and his daughter Tan Geok Hua, 52 also worked as a cleaner at Chung Hwa School. Both father and daughter each receive a monthly old age pension of $250 each.

The people representing the family were a Chinese couple both retired but willing to help those in need. Chian Chinn could not hear very well and has problems with his eyesight on the right side but he was very happy and grateful with the support he has received from people.

"Geok Hua had to stop working at Chung Hwa because her elder sister who used to drive Hua to work, died a couple of years ago," said Juliana Chong, a Yayasan representative.

Juliana Chong at 56 and Chong Yap Jun at 58 have taken care and monitored Chian Chinn and Geok Hua for three years already. They said that they were glad with the community's support for the family.

The last house that was visited yesterday was a small shack at Kampong Sungai Matan. Maiman Timbang at 73, lives alone in his small residence, does not have relatives and survives with only $250 a month. Hj Hasbollah Hj Damit, a representative from the warga-warga emas department, has helped and observed Maiman for four years.

"I report every now and then to the department about his living conditions and we try to help him out as much as we can, such as buying him food and other necessities," said Hj Hasbollah.

The committee will travel to Kuala Belait tomorrow and the following days to the other districts. Private companies that contributed their donations for this project were from Irmas, Syurga Warda, Eman Cookies, Nasi Katok Mama, Aalia, Brusin, WYWY restaurant and Giant Hypermarket Rimba.

The Brunei Times