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So much for the continuing uproar over what Teresa Kok ate in detention, and also what detainees at one immigration centre eat as highlighted in the local papers and blogs. In reality, there are many poor hungry folks who would thankfully eat rice with "treats" (yes) like egg, fried chicken neck, fried liver or gizzard, and stir-fried cabbage.
I think there is too much unbalanced opinion coming from those who are privileged to afford snacks, breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at hotels, restaurants, and cafes. They should stop turning up their noses in disdain at simple fare, start to count their blessings and for a start donate towards helping the poor and needy instead of paying mere lip service. Let us focus on many Malaysians, the rural and urban poor, the jobless and let us see what they can afford to eat. I have heard, read and personally observed what many poor folks, including myself who is currently unemployed, eat. Let us be reminded of the sacrifices of our forefathers, the older generations of Malay villagers, Chinese immigrants, Indian estate workers who used to survive on rice and cheap salted fish, rice and soy sauce and rice and gravy. We often read about poor families who can hardly afford anything more than watered down porridge for their babies, children and themselves. Some even go hungry. Some families survive on RM100 – 200 per month for food! There are also many urban poor workers and families struggling to survive in the cities. Those who can afford simple fare eat food like plain white bread, instant noodles, roti canai, kueh for breakfast costing less than RM1 per person. Those who can afford the 20 sen increase buy nasi lemak, which nowadays come in a much reduced portion of rice, no nuts, no anchovies, one-sixth to one-quarter slice of boiled egg, some sambal and sometimes one very tiny slice of cucumber. For lunch, it is either the same as for breakfast plus plain water. Some go for rice and only one serving of the following : stir-fried vegetable/plain curry/gravy/sambal/one cheap fish/one egg (yes! – egg)/fried chicken neck/ fried liver/gizzard (yes! – same as the picture on the front page of the local newspaper and even smaller portion)/in place of chicken neck or liver some opt for bishop's nose (chicken backside)/one piece tauhu/ a pinch of nuts/anchovies.. If these are cooked at home they cost less than RM1 per head. If bought, the shops will charge between RM1.50 to RM2.50, plus a free drink of plain tap water if you are lucky, or the water might cost from 20 to 40 sen. For dinner, it is the same as lunch. Many unemployed, including the writer, and some poor old folks survive on nasi lemak, instant noodles, and a selection of the same food described above. I personally manage to swallow my food without water or gravy just to save the extra cost. Coming to animals, I think one of the local newspapers of September 25, 2008, has over-exaggerated the daily figure of RM8 for mongrels and non-pedigree cats. Go to any supermarket and you will find packets of dog food costing, if you work the figures out, anything from RM 5 –6 per kg, and an average mongrel can survive on 200g daily. Go to visit the SPCA and PAWS and if you can donate towards a daily meal of rice and chicken neck for these unfortunate animals, they will be so thankful to you. So to all the decent folks out there, please be a bit unselfish and realize that a mere monthly sacrifice of foregoing even one packet of cigarettes, one cup of Starbucks coffee or even anything from RM5-10, which if donated to the charities for the poor, old, orphans, and animals can actually do a lot to save many lives and much suffering! "Concerned"
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