Machap jaya: The Machap Jaya Free Market, now in its third year, continues to be a much-anticipated programme for local residents, especially the Orang Asli community, who come to obtain free clothing.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, an 18-year-old expectant mother from Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Besar, Pelangi Pinjam, was among the first to arrive at the programme to look for baby clothes. She expressed her excitement upon finding not only used clothes in good condition but also brand-new baby items.
She shared her relief, noting that her husband's income as a rubber tapper is small, and they had not been able to buy clothes for their baby, expected in May, due to financial constraints. Her husband, Yuzi Amrie a/l Wang Long, 20, and she returned home with two bags filled with baby clothes, feeling relieved about not having to worry about purchasing clothes for their first child.
Meanwhile, Seri Manis a/p Asing, 32, from Kampung Orang Asli Machap Umboo, attended the programme with her three children, aged six to 14, to choose clothes for daily use. She noted her family spent over 30 minutes selecting suitable clothes and was delighted to find both used and new clothes that fit her children. She expressed that it was a relief not to spend money on new clothes, especially with Hari Raya approaching.
For Maznah Isnin, 66, from Kampung Paya Datok, the programme held significant meaning. Despite attending in a wheelchair due to health problems, she was pleased to find clothes suitable for Hari Raya Aidilfitri. She remarked that many families in the area are not well-off, and receiving good clothes for free is a blessing, as new clothes can be expensive.
Machap Jaya Assemblyman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem stated that the annual programme serves as a platform to help residents, particularly the Orang Asli community, access clothes and other items at no cost, alleviating their financial burdens. He emphasized that with the rising cost of living, many Orang Asli families, who rely on rubber tapping, have limited income.
Ngwe also mentioned that the programme is held every year ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and might be expanded during the 'Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat DUN Machap Jaya' programme scheduled for April, with more clothes and other items to be made available.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Machap Jaya Free Market programme, Nurashiqin Alias, 42, stated that the clothes and items, such as shoes, were donated by various parties. She highlighted the collaboration between the Machap Jaya Wanita UMNO, Puteri UMNO, and MILA University in organizing the initiative. She noted that the response from donors this year has been very encouraging, with an increase in the number of visitors compared to last year.