UNGS 1201 REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 2: POVERTY ISSUES IN MALAYSIA

  REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 2: POVERTY ISSUES IN MALAYSIA

NAME: AFIFAH NAJIHAH BINTI ZAMRI

 MATRIC NO: 2019824

The COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into health, socioeconomic and humanitarian crises of unprecedented scale and impact. Over 500,000 of the households in Malaysia are considered living in the poverty line as of March 2021 recorded by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) due to the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said based on the Household Income, the poverty rate for the year was 5.6%, and now it increases by about three percent namely 8.4% during the COVID-19 period. This issue is very important to be handled as we wanted to achieve the target of sustainable development goal number one which is to end poverty in all its forms and dimensions everywhere by 2030.

Here I would like to share my personal experience on helping one family that are living in poor condition. Prior to this, I had met some people who lived in poverty but majority people out there having easy life, luxurious living and extra comfort. However, I was taken aback one day when my mother stated that she and her colleague's friend had met a poor-living family near my neighborhood in Alor Setar, Kedah.

There are a family and their five children who live in a tiny and old house. The house has no rooms, and only has a living room and basically, all activities are done there including cooking, sleeping, and so on. The husband only works as a blacksmith and his salary is very little to support the family, pay his children’s school fees and buy milk, diapers, and other necessities because they have a baby and his wife just a housewife. They also do not have enough clothing, food, and healthcare. It breaks my heart to see their earnestness and the struggles to make a living. Aside from that, the family's life is also dependent on Zakat.

Hence, my family wanted to help them with clothing, food and get them a new house that is more comfortable for the family. Yes, I know one cannot make such people opulent but can at least help them achieve the essentials of life and lead a prosperous life. So, my mother told me to gather all of the shirts, clothes, dresses, and hijabs that I no longer use, and she also told her colleagues to gather any still-good things that they no longer use to donate to this family.

This is because since I was a child, my mother and teachers at school have always tried to encourage me to help poor people by giving them toys and clothes, which I would not use anymore. Furthermore, I was told that it was good to help needy people assistance whenever possible and never ignore them because no one knows what future she or he will have. In the end, we finally managed to help the family with various forms of assistance such as shelter, food, clothing, and so on. This is because many people are willing to help them. I am very grateful enough that there are many people who very kind-hearted to help the family what they can afford.

   In conclusion, as I am taking this subject, I am becoming more aware of this sustainable issue. I have recognized that this is a very important issue for everyone to take seriously to achieve the first of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is to end poverty by 2030. Everyone is committed to sharing or donating their wealth to those in need so that no one is left behind, so that we can fulfill the Sejahtera concept which is to eliminate poverty and living a healthy, perfect, and comfortable life. Besides, helping the poor and needy people is a good deed and it is highly demanded in Islam.

“Help with one another in goodness and righteousness; but do not help one another in sin and transgression.” (AL-MAIDAH:2)

(picture are taken from the internet)