Eco World Foundation contributes RM50,000 in medical and food aid to Klang welfare group

PETALING JAYA (June 5): The Eco World Foundation has contributed RM50,000 worth of medical equipment and food aid to Charity Food Basket Society Klang, Selangor (CFBSK), benefiting 150 low-income families and patients in need.

The handover involved five units of double-crank manual hospital beds and three months' worth of food rations. The hospital beds will be housed at the CFBSK centre and made available on loan to patients who cannot afford to rent or purchase medical equipment. Designed to improve patient comfort and ease the demands of home caregiving, the beds are primarily used by elderly and critically ill patients.

CFBSK estimates that around 30% of the beds are returned after recovery, while most are only returned after a patient has passed away.

The food rations, worth RM100 per family per month, will support 150 households over three months.

Eco World Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the contribution reflects the Foundation's recognition that underserved communities have needs that extend well beyond education.

"What the team at CFBSK has built with very little, and with so much heart, is truly worth supporting. These volunteers, many of them retirees, show up every month because they believe in taking care of one another. The Foundation is honoured to play a small part in extending that care, whether it is a family that can now put food on the table, or a patient who can recover at home with the right equipment.

"Beyond education, which has always been close to our hearts, we recognise that the needs of underserved communities are wide-ranging. Sometimes what a family needs most is food on the table. Sometimes it is a proper bed to recover in. These are basic dignities, and we believe everyone deserves access to them. We hope this contribution, though modest, brings genuine relief to those who receive it," he said.

The contribution marks the foundation's first collaboration with CFBSK.

CFBSK, a registered non-profit welfare society, has been serving the Klang community since 2002. Run largely by retiree volunteers, it distributes food to vulnerable families every first Sunday of the month, provides medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walking aids on loan, and supports students through school aid and back-to-school programmes.

Recipients are identified and verified by CFBSK in collaboration with local communities. Even storage containers at its centre have been donated by the public, reflecting the strong community support behind its work.

The handover was attended by Eco World Foundation trustees Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Philip Mathews and Prof Dr Zahari Ishak, alongside CFBSK founder and president Chew Song Kong and its volunteer team.

Call for stronger corporate participation

Lee stressed that stronger corporate participation in CSR is becoming increasingly important as cost-of-living pressures mount.

"It's very important that there is more CSR, corporate social responsibility, because every corporate body has a responsibility to carry out CSR initiatives. If more companies undertake CSR efforts, more people in need can receive help and more organisations that require assistance can be supported," he said.

He noted that media coverage of such initiatives plays a key role in building awareness and encouraging wider participation.

"One of the reasons we invited the media to cover this is because we want the public to know that this is a good organisation doing good work. We hope this can encourage others to come forward and help because they need support," he told EdgeProp.

Lee added that while the foundation continues to contribute, larger systemic support is needed as many low-income families continue to struggle with daily essentials.

"Looking at the current situation in the country, I think the cost of living is a very serious problem. There are many people in the low-income group who are struggling to obtain food. This is where food baskets like these can make a significant difference," he said.

He also highlighted the importance of proper vetting to ensure resources reach genuine recipients.

"They verify each case because not everyone who comes forward may be telling the truth, and some may try to take advantage of the situation. They conduct checks to determine whether a case is genuine, and if it is, they will provide support," he said.

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