Islam Connects Mekong Boat People With Malaysians

By Amrizan Madian PHNOM PENH, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- Islam has forged a bond that brings the corporate sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Malaysia closer to the Cham Muslim community who live in boats along the Mekong River here. The community head of Islamic Affairs, who is known as Tok Adam, said it was through the spirit of Muslim brotherhood that the Malaysian corporate sector and NGOs felt the hardships of the people of Kampung Chapa Empov. “Today, the word ‘Allah’ has brought us closer to the Malaysians who sympathise with us. “We did not ask to be helped, but are very grateful that this spirit of Muslim Brotherhood brought Malaysians here to help us,” he told Bernama here Monday. According to him, the village was set up in 1979 following the war and the atrocities of the Pol Pot regime during the 1970's. Tok Adam said that that war forced them, who were mostly from the upstream territories of the Mekong River, to flee and leave their home. “We do have a dream to return to our village, but we could not, as we are poor,” he said. At present, about 190 families of the Cham Muslim community are still living in boats that could accommodate seven to eight people each. Most of them are river fishermen eking out a living by catching freshwater fish or work as a labourer around Phnom Penh. As-Syafie Foundation chairman Mohd Zamerey Abdul Razak said since a few years ago his foundation collaborated with Bank Rakyat and several other banks in Malaysia as well as individuals, to help improve the lives of the Muslims living in boats along Mekong River. He said the foundation not only provided basic necessities such as food but also provided them with opportunities for better academic education especially for the Form One to Form Six. “Just like the Kampot’s Maahad Imam Syafie mission, we want more children in this floating village to have this opportunity. “We are not giving them fish, but we want to provide them with knowledge because only with knowledge, they could change their life,” he added. He said the foundation aimed to produce Muslim professionals who are true to their roots and Muslim ethics. “I called for more Malaysian NGOs to join us in helping them and to organise integrated programmes for Muslim communities in Cambodia,” he said. Recently, the foundation collaborated with Bank Rakyat’s Sinar Aidiladha 1439H programme and Surau Al-Barakah to distribute 5kg bags of rice to the 190 families living in the boats of Kampung Chapa Empov, in conjunction with the banks’ Cambodian Humanitarian Trip 2018. -- BERNAMA