About orphanages and old folks homes

Yeah, sure, they have been victims, they have been poor, they have been ignorant, they have been used for domestic purposes, they have been tricked, yada, yada, yada.But what have we finished for them alternative than rant, rave, scream, moan, as good as bitch, which a angpows should have been in red packets as good as not white packets when we yourself did not worry to give them even a single red cent?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Back in a 1970s (I was usually in my 20s then), we assimilated a Kuala Terengganu Rotary Club. A couple of years upon we became a secretary. we was a cabinet member for some-more afterwards 7 years, basically since no a single else wanted a job.

My 'pet' projects were to revisit as good as aid a orphanages as good as a aged folks' home during Bukit Payung. we also 'adopted' a psychiatric ward in a Kuala Terengganu General Hospital.

There was not really most we could do for a inmates in a psychiatric ward alternative than buy them a sound system. When we went back to revisit a ward later, a nurses told me which a inmates were most happier than before.

In a past, they only brooded out of boredom. Now they sing as good as dance to a music. They were even happier when we assimilated them in a merriment. we suspect which is because we have turn what a Chinese would calltaufung.Blame it upon my work with a inmates in a psychiatric ward of a Kuala Terengganu General Hospital.

There were a series of orphanages all over a state. However, many of a orphanages we visited did not appear to need any monetary assistance. When we offered to send them a couple of sacks of rice as good as alternative foodstuff a caretaker pleaded with me not to do so. He afterwards showed me their food store. It w! as built with food. So a last thing they need is some-more food.

Invariably, all a boys as good as girls in a institution were Malays. There were no Chinese or Indian kids (which is utterly understandable seeing which 97% of Terengganu's population is Malay).

Malays (meaning Muslims) hold which if we pat or cadence a conduct of an waif we get to go to heaven. Feeding them is even better. So even bad Malays send food to a orphanage, even if they have really little to eat themselves -- though as long as your own family is not starving (then your family comes first).

Then an thought came into my head. If we can't feed them, can we adopt them? we called for a community meeting (in Kuala Ibai, Kuala Terennganu) as good as asked my neighbours who would similar to to experience in my embracing a cause programme. Most agreed, a little even offered to take dual or three orphans.

Came Hari Raya Eve, we drove to a institution (after before contacting them, of course) as good as brought home about 30 or so orphans to outlay a week in a community as a adopted children. They were delighted, especially since we lived in what could be deliberate an 'upmarket' housing area (for Terengganu standards, of march -- in Kuala Lumpur it would be deliberate a third-class community similar to Kepong or Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh).

Thereafter, they came over during weekends as good as school holidays. Our community became 'adopted parents' for these orphans as good as eventually they all became a single of a family as good as could move in as good as out of any residence during will (as if they were born in those houses).

Not all these orphans wereyatim piatu(both father as good as mom died). Some were justanak yatim(one primogenitor died) -- as good as many times it was a father who had died. And a unemployed mom was too bad to feed a child upon her RM75 a month welfare handout so she had not choice though to bail out her child or young kids in a orp! hanage. Even afterwards we usually got welfare if we have been an Umno supporter since we need a signature of a local Umno chief to turn eligible for welfare.

For a aged folks' home it was another story altogether. Almost all a inmates were Chinese (hardly any Malays as good as Indians save a few). And a little of them were aged folks of really successful or abounding Chinese (as what a caretaker told me -- judging from a expensive limousines which their young kids expostulate when they revisit their aged folks once a year during Chinese New Year).

"Why once a year during Chinese New Year?" we asked a caretaker. Do they all live abroad or in Kuala Lumpur? Some do though not all. Some essentially live in town, about twenty mins away.

we found which really strange. Malays normally keep their aged folks during home, even how foolish they might have become. Why do a Chinese bail out their parents in a aged folks' home? For a Malay as good as Indian inmates we can utterly understand. They have no children. But a caretaker is revelation me which not usually do these Chinese inmates have young kids though a little good off ones during which too.

But which was in a 1970s. we do not know either which is still so today. And we honestly do not know either which is also so for a aged folks in which Ibrahim Ali-MCA whiteangpowfiasco.

we asked a Chinese members of a Rotary Club: because do these good off young kids bail out their parents in a aged folks' home? And it is so pitiable to see them cumulative similar to animals to their beds (to prevent them from upon foot divided as good as probably spiteful themselves in a process since a little of them have been senile).

The Chinese members only shrugged their shoulders. "Maybe it iskarma," they told me. "Maybe they were cruel to their young kids in a past so their young kids have no adore for them as good as do not want to be burdened with seeking after their foolish aged folks."

Now, before to we fly off a handle as good as credit me of Chinese-bashing, which is not during all my intention. It is only which a latest brouhaha brought back a little memories of 35 years ago. And, as they say, when we start seeking back to a aged days which is a sign which age has held up upon you.