Malaysian Embassy In Thailand Helps Underprivileged

By Linda Khoo BANGKOK, May 16 (Bernama) -- Jenjira Srisawuat, 29, a mother of three whose youngest is a 10-month-old boy, was overjoyed and touched when she received infant formula at the Duang Prateep Foundation’s kindergarten in the Khlong Toey slum here Saturday. Her family has been living hand-to-mouth after being hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her husband, a motorcycle taxi driver, is the sole breadwinner of the family but lost his income following the government’s move to close major public venues including shopping malls, entertainment oultets and sports venues since March 22. “A packet of infant formula can last at least a week. I am happy and glad today as there is a group of people lending a helping hand to my baby,” she told Bernama. Jenjira was among 70 mothers from the slums who received inform formula from Malaysia’s Ambassador to Thailand, Datuk Jojie Samuel, at the kindergarten. Also present was Deputy chief of mission at the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok, Suzilah Mohd Sidek. Thailand first declared a state of emergency from March 26 to April 30 and extended it to May 31 to combat COVID-19. Meanwhile, the founder of Duang Prateep Foundation, Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, said since the COVID-19 outbreak, slum dwellers who were mostly daily wage earners suffered a loss of income. “Baby formula and powdered milk are expensive. They cannot afford it. “They will buy cheap sweetened condensed milk for their children which lacks the right nutrients to support growth and brain development. “A helping hand from donors like you goes a long way in building the future of underprivileged children. On their behalf, I thank you for your kindness,” she said. The Duang Pratepp Foundation was established more than 40 years ago to help children and their families to cope with the living conditions of slum life. Meanwhile, Jojie said the small contribution came from the Sports and Welfare Club of the Embassy of Malaysia, Ladies' Association of Wisma Putra, Bangkok and Malaysian-Thai Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) chairman Dr Hwee Khim Boo. “We are happy to help in a small way to elevate the poor in the slums who lost income because of the pandemic,” he said. Khlong Toey is Bangkok’s oldest and biggest slum and is home to about 100,000 people, 30,000 of whom are children. -- BERNAMA