AFTER safely delivering five containers filled with food items, three Buddhist temples in the Klang Valley are still striving to deliver more items to Thailand.
The items, donated by devotees and well-wishers since Oct 27, have since been passed on to the Supreme Patriarch’s Compassion-ate Relief Project (SPCRP) in Bangkok to assist flood victims with various basic necessities.
Once the trucks arrive at the Supreme Patriarch’s office, volunteers would separate the items and repack them into clear bags which they referred to as ‘survival kits’.
“The survival bag is essential as we fill it with bottled water, instant noodles, some medication, children’s diapers and rice, which we then distribute,” said the Malaysian representative to the organising secretariat, Yee Lai Lin.
Reaching out: Anil (in brown robes) helping to distribute the survival packs in an inundated neighbourhood. The operations, headed by the Supreme Patriarch’s assistant secretary Venerable Dr Anil Sakya, are carried out on a daily basis.
Anil also constantly updates his personal Facebook page, posting photographs and videos of the relief efforts.
“We are thankful to have so many people coming out to help us on this little effort, especially Seagull Logistics which sponsored the cost of transporting the containers from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok,” said Yee when met at the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur where volunteers were busy filling up containers with donated items.
Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple chief high priest Ven. B. Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thera said he was proud that Malaysians were lending a helping hand to the Thais in a time of need.
“Doing dana does not only mean offering food to the monks alone but to the needy too. It does not have to be a material donation but can be something as simple as spending time to comfort and motivate them through the rough days,” said Saranankara.
According to Yee, the trucks heading to Bangkok all needed to have special import permits from the Thai National Office of Buddhism before they could proceed on their journey in the country.
Yee assured donors that all items and cash donations collected via the three listed centres would be stringently monitored.
In Thailand, Anil had distributed survival packs to the affected residents around the Pathum Thani province, the Bang Yi Khan area, Wat Daodungsaram evacuation centre, Wat Phra Sri Mahadhat, Phet Kasem 41 road, Wat Muang, Wat Rat Bamrung, Wat Bowon, neighbouring Muslim communities and the homes of Burmese workers.
“The Malaysian survival packs are a hit among the Thais, especially the Muslim communities, as all our food products donated are halal,” Yee said.
Food items such as rice, milk powder, Milo, instant noodles, biscuits, sugar, canned food like sardine and tuna as well as diapers for babies are still needed.
There are also two buy-and- drop centres where donors can purchase items and drop them at the bins.
The drop-off points are Carrefour Endah Parade at Sri Petaling and EconSave Cash & Carry at Festival City mall situated along Jalan Genting Klang.
Donations will be accepted until Nov 26.
The three temples are:
• Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple
Jalan 9/7, off Jalan Gasing,
Section 9, Petaling Jaya.
Contact: Kam Siew Imm (019-219 2337)
• Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple
Lot 85, Jalan Sentul
Sentul, Kuala Lumpur
Contact: Chai Koh Wei (016-209 0098)
• Buddhist Maha Vihara
123, Jalan Berhala
Brickfields Kuala Lumpur
Contact : Yanna Perera/ Bodhi Teh (03-2274 1141)
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