I would like to wish Happy New Year to Tamil, Malayalees and the Sikhs community and friends.

Last Sunday, I was invited to attend a Tamil New Year Celebration at Kawasan D, Kg Sg Nibong Kecil. I was shocked and saddened by what I have seen. After 51 years under BN, the community of Kg Sg Nibong Kecil is still living in poverty. The entire kampung had 1000 homes, 5000 residents, and they were all “urban pioneers” (I hate to use this word: squatters). Kawasan D is mainly Indians, but Kg Sg Nibong Kecil is majority 80% Malays and some small community of Chinese. In short, Malays, Chinese and Indians are just left behind in this kampung.

The kawasan D community was living in a slump area, houses were small and close to each other. There were many old and sick people. A man who was undergoing dialysis every week almost cried in front of me because he just couldn’t afford the bills. A single mother without job asked me to help her feed the family. A lady who recently met accident, ask me to help pay for their hospital bill. There were just too many poor people. They all came up to me to ask for assistant. I did not know how to help them, frankly. I promised to bring the Welfare Department to help them. Hopefully, they will get something.

I too saw hope in the kampung. The hope was with the kids. They were energetic, cheerful and lovely. I urged the parents to focus on the kids and make sure they send the kids to school. I believe education is the only way to ride the community out of poverty.

I also immediately pledge to set up a mini-library at their community center called Dewan Hindu Sangam. I will allocate RM3,000 to buy books to set up this library. Also, I will install an air-cond at their community center so that the kids will have a  good environment to read and study.

I hope by cultivating the habits of reading, they will excel in their school and eventually lift their families out of poverty. Happy Tamil New Year.

Sim Tze Tzin