JOHOR BARU: Last year Dr Gary Ko was moved by the plight of the poor struggling to put food on the table particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coming from a family of seafood wholesalers, he doled out the catch that his company gathered every day to poor residents of low-cost flats at Sri Stulang here.
The aid went some way in bringing relief to the poor, where vegetables, rice and soy sauce, was their only food.
This year again the 48-year-old Johor Baru-born doctor, who has a private practice in Bangkok, was moved by the struggles of poor Muslims during the current fasting month.
Dr Ko who returned to his hometown here on vacation but found himself stuck here due to the pandemic, today donated 30 parcels of fish, each weighing 3kg, to residents of the Sri Stulang low-cost flats here.
He has been doing this one day a week.
"Fish these days is not cheap because of the rainy season when fishermen don't want to go into deep waters for their catch," said Dr Ko.
"The catch they bring in from the shallower waters is not plentiful and is higher priced," he said.
"How can the poor afford fish in this type of situation?" asked Dr Ko.
He said Muslims fasting in Ramadan prompted him to provide fish to add to their diet.
"What I give them is not from the rivers but from the sea. A serving of bawal, tinggeri and siakap one day a week should go some way in providing variety to their intake," said Dr Ko.
"Who knows, some of the recipients will stretch the parcels for their meals over a few days," Dr Ko said.
A different set of 30 families are chosen to receive the fare each week.
"I'd like to give each Muslim household at the flats a parcel but that is not possible as there is not enough," he said.
Dr Ko studied medicine at Ramkamhaeng University in Bangkok and set up private practice in the Thai capital after graduation.
He returns annually to Johor Baru for the Lunar New Year celebrations but last year was unable to go back because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Since he was grounded, he spents his time managing the family's seafood business.
Dr Ko's generosity elicited words of gratitude from a mother of six, Norizan Hassan, 46, who has been living in the Sri Stulang flat for a long time.
"I'm grateful to Dr Ko for helping us during this time of Ramadan," said Norizan whose husband died several years ago.
"Sometimes when I go to the market I find the price of fish is very high and I do not buy. I just get the vegetables and other stuff," she said.
Another grateful recipient was Maznan Bachok, 63, who said he seldom buys fish due to its high cost.
"I plant vegetables and fruit trees around the flat where I stay and consume them during the Ramadan season," he said.
Teary-eyed Maznan said he was heartened there was one "good man who knows our plight and has come with a bountiful gift for us." - NST
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