RM113,500 raised for woman who sought food in rubbish bins

 

Magdalena Herkules Manalu’s husband, Choong Nai Fatt, 44, suffered a stroke and is bedridden. (Facebook pic)

GEORGE TOWN: Little did Magdalena Herkules Manalu expect that a story about her rummaging through a garbage bin to fend for her family, which went viral on social media, would receive public attention and raise RM113,500 in just 40 hours.

The 39-year-old woman, who is seven months pregnant, was forced to scavenge from rubbish bins to find food for her family after her husband, Choong Nai Fatt, 44, the sole breadwinner, was bedridden after a stroke in December.

A campaign to collect money, supervised by One Hope Charity and Welfare, was launched on Feb 6 to help the family but the collection was stopped two days later.

“I wish to thank all donors who have donated to my family. I am very thankful because without your donations, I would not have been able to get my husband treated and give security to my family.

“But then, I urge all to stop donating to me because it is already enough. Give the donation to those more in need because (the donations collected) currently it is already adequate to treat my husband.

“I don’t need money anymore except for your prayers that our affairs are facilitated,” she told reporters when met in the compound of her house in Jelutong today.

Magdalena said she would use the donation to start an online business for a fresh start to look after her family in light of her pregnancy, while waiting for her husband to recover.

The woman, who is from Medan, Indonesia, said she did not want to depend on public charity as she still had the energy to find a living.

One Hope Charity and Welfare chairman Chua Sui Hau said that Magdalena had decided to use RM45,000 from the funds collected to install a new plate on her husband’s skull at Pantai Hospital, not including the costs of physiotherapy and other treatments.
Choong had undergone a craniotomy (skull operation) at the Penang Hospital in December.

“If there are extra funds, we will channel to Choong’s family monthly, depending on the needs of the family, until it is used up. We will not give the donation in one lump sum because, from past experience, the funds will be gone in the twinkling of an eye … in addition, other quarters would surely disturb the family for the money,” said Chua.

He said the collection of donations to the family also had to be stopped because certain irresponsible quarters were taking advantage of the situation through online platforms masquerading as Choong’s family members seeking aid.- FMT