By Weng Hong
As we approach Malaysia Day on Sept 16, let us remember Sabah in our prayers especially in these critical areas :
The massive illegal immigrant population in Sabah (a recurring issue over the decades)
It is estimated that there are 1.7 million illegals in Sabah leaving the 1.5 million Sabahans marginalised and disenfranchised in their own land greatly affecting the socio – political and economic, religious fabric and security within the state. (These illegals have to look for jobs, food, shelter, healthcare etc but have no rights) Sabah has the highest number of poor in the country and an increasing crime statistic. (fmt 19/5/11) As of aug 8, 2011, Sabah has recorded the highest in registered illegal immigrants of the 530,625 illegals so far registered from aug 1 to aug 8 in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah under the Govt’s Biometric 6P Amnesty programme.
Stateless children
A report in 2009 says Sabah is home to 52,000 stateless children and their numbers are steadily increasing. “Stateless children are a by product of the massive influx of illegal immigrants into Sabah” ” They are here because many of their parents who are illegal immigrants (working in plantations) have either abandoned them or left them when they were arrested or deported back” They live on the streets as child labourers, are exposed to drugs, petty crime and are subject to abuse, have no access to education, healthcare. (free malaysia today 19/5/2011)
Prayer
Lets pray that the Government is determined, impartial and sincere in its 6P Amnesty Biometric Registration Programme for illegal immigrants and illegal foreign workers esp in Sabah inorder to stop their abuse / exploitation by syndicates/people who seek to profit from their vulnerablility (as they have no rights). Pray that the Govt is sincere to resolve the huge immigrant population in Sabah which is destroying the socio - political, security, economic, religious fabric in Sabah.
Pray for the Church in Sabah that it would be united and find a new zeal and commitment to bring the good news to the poor and needy there.
Weng Hong Run Nat Prayer Commission Head
By Weng Hong
Visit to Sunway Mentari Low cost Flats By Weng Hong Run Nat Prayer Commission Head
As we arrived at the high density low cost flats in sunway, there was a constant buzz of human activity, chatting, dealing, buying and selling, even at such a late hour. A large crowd was queueing up at the lifts and we were reminded to be careful as we waited our turn to squeeze into the packed elevator. We were led into a small flat where a group of children were having bible study. As the night progressed we had a small peek into the hidden lives of three women who courageously, determinedly prayed and laboured to uplift the poverty stricken lives of poor families and their children. They took us to visit two poor families who needed assistance (we shall meet them later) , and as they intepreted for us, it dawned on us how these 3 women understood the needs of these two families, borne out of years of teaching English to their children, visiting, listening, caring and being their friend. So great was their love for the Indian community here that they were more concerned for us to help them be self sufficient rather than provide funds. We listened as they discussed patiently with the eager mothers (breadwinners of the family) how a $50/= microfinance loan! could be used to buy wholesale items and sold in the flats for extra income. It would have been so tempting to just give money and then leave without any long term solution.
As we left them at 12 midnight, the same constant buzz of human activity was still there, children were running around at the playground, (we were told children were the ones involved as pimps in the sex trade here) people were still buying, selling, chatting, dealing. (I wonder when it stops.) We realised these 3 women are the only ‘LIGHT’ in this place for these poor families and their children in a sea of darkness. They are the hands and feet of Jesus. This is the ’ invisible church ‘ and they urgently need our constant prayer support.
Let’s pray for the ‘invisible church’ in sunway mentari.
Pray for all the children at the bible study, some are believers , others are not. Those new in faith face pressure from their Hindu parents and friends and the unhealthy environment in the flats, schools.
Pray for the poor families we visited, they only have one meal a day and depend on the mothers’, wages to survive and monthly food donations from a church. Pray that our RUN NAT (Sponsor our Run) will empower these families.
Pray for all the 3 ladies who continue to minister at sunway mentari unrecognised and unaided, self funded doing it out of love. For their protection, health and safety as they come into the flats. Pray for their families protection and support.
Pray for all the hidden christians who visit, teach, care and attend to needs of the poor in the various urban low cost flats, bringing the love of christ out of the 4 walls of church into these low cost flats.
Pray for more young adult christians to volunteer time to teach English at sunway mentari flats and encourage the children.
Ho Weng Hong Run Nat Prayer Commission Head
By Weng Hong
John’s small hardware company had been supplying steel on credit to his customer for 6 months. He had been very impressed by his customer’s talk / boasting about his large company’s success, sales, potential and their accounts (which was fabricated to look good) . He had promised to pay him, saying a big cheque was on the way, but kept giving excuses when he rang him. Then one day he heard the company had closed down. There was no way he could recover his money, the owner had fled. Whilst his customer continued to live a luxurious life (he had transferred his company’s money to his account before it collapsed), John and his family faced ruin, and he had not paid his foreign workers in months. Everyday they would come to his office, many in tears, saying they had nothing to eat and nowhere to live. Others came in anger, threathening death to him and his family.
An economy and businesses that operate on lies and deceit bring suffering to others espcially the poor (incl small businesses and workers, NST 13/8/10 states that 34% of the 1.3 million workers surveyed earn less than $700 a month) and the Lord withholds his blessing on the land. The NST 4/3/10 reported that losses from commercial crime rose from RM845 mill in 2008 to RM1.3 billion in 2009, with cheating and criminal breach of trust the main culprits. Lawyers arrested for commercial crime rose from 27 in 2008 to 65 in 2009. (All this excludes the many unreported cases). 41% of the 1.2 million civil servants are involved in corruption. (Sun 3/6/10) All this affects the poor who struggle with rising prices, as employers go bankrupt, businesses fail due to cheating and unethical practices.
”The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight” Prov 11 : 1. “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people”. Prov 14: 34. “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth” Deut 8 : 18
Lets pray for honest, ethical, wise, compassionate businessmen especially christians who consider the lives and wellbeing of their suppliers, customers, workers and not just their own welfare. Pray for more and more of these employers, businessmen in our economy.
Pray for transparency and true , accurate financial statements in busineses. Pray for accountants, auditors.
Pray for your employers , for yourselves, your colleagues in the workplace for righteousness, integrity and against corruption.
Pray for businessmen, businesses that they will invest time and money with the poor in the community, poor families in the workforce to build them up and provide scholarships for poor children.
Weng Hong Run Nat Prayer Commission Head
By Weng Hong
” When I think about her future, I will worry” says Seri as she looks pensively at her daughter Rani who suffers from AUTISM, ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and has poor eyesight. Rani stays at home most of the time, helping with housework and cooking as Seri feels ashamed, embarrased and is unable to cope with Rani’s behaviour and the stares of strangers outside. Every day Rani would say goodbye to her brothers as they head to school and lead the normal life of a child that she was excluded from having. Deep down she grieved at this painful rejection. Secretly Seri hoped that she would outlive her daughter for fear that there would be nobody to care for her.
People with learning difficulties (special needs) represent the largest category (107,164 2009 stats) amongst the 280,000 people listed with a disability in Malaysia (2009 stats. Not including the thousands unlisted and hidden). They include those with down syndrome, Autism, ADD , ADHD, dyslexia etc . The above scenario represents some of the many difficulties faced by special needs children, the most important being integration and inclusion into society as independent productive individuals. According to NASOM, it is important for special needs children to receive proper training from as young as four years old as it would help them become independent and able to follow simple instructions ( NST 9/5/11 prime news p12)
With this in mind Malaysian Care’s Department of Services for people with special needs thru its inclusive pre -school education (where normal and special needs children attend), school age programme, young adult, Day training centre, Job training centre and Production workshop has prepared young adults with special needs to enter the workforce, into open employment. In the Job Training centre, a mock up factory setting and job coaching helps them to learn discipline, teamwork, communication, forming friendships and self responsibility whilst in a production workshop they are entrusted to do the whole contract work like packing for real customers like KFC but in a sheltered assisted environment.
All these programmes by Malaysian Care have helped many people like Yee Han, Kenny and Matthew find permanent full time work. Matthew who works in a logistics company was presented with a certificate of perfect attendance , his manager commented that he
” is now successfully executing his responsibilities smoothly, even with the increased volume, while at the same time mingling with the rest of the team. He is treated like any of the other team members and participates actively in all activities, contributing whenever possible. …. Matthew’s dedication and commitment is second to none. We are confident and assured that he is an asset to the organization.” (Care Contact 3rd quarter 2011)
Let us pray for Malaysian Care’s Department of Services for people with special needs that they will be even more effective in preparing special needs young adults for open employment. Pray that more and more parents, caregivers, especially the poor will not hide these children but send them to Malaysian Care’s inclusive pre school, school age programmes and young adults to young adult programmes, day training, job training and production workshop centres. Pray also for all the 428 rehabilitation centres in Malaysia providing care and training to disabled children, that they will be effective and accountable and will receive Government support and funding. We pray against those who prey and take advantage of these children preventing them from having a full life. Lord protect and shelter these defenceless young ones in your arms. Let your prayer runners be open and teachable as Malaysian Care trains us for Run Nat Grace community service. Let our hearts be open towards helping these special needs children, especially those from poor families.
Weng Hong Run Nat (M) Prayer Commission Head.
