There is more happy news for the Kechara Soup Kitchen group this week…we managed to shelter Uncle Cheong in Ti-Ratana earlier this week! Having been jobless for a month, Uncle Cheong took to sleeping in the Puduraya Bus Station.

He started coming to KSK for food about four weeks ago, at the same time asking about employment opportunities. Despite turning 66 this year, Uncle Cheong feels he can still work. He previously worked in a plantation in Kuala Klawang where he was a gardener for six years until his employment was terminated. Although his previous employers deemed him too old to continue, KSK thinks that Uncle Cheong does not look his age, with a strong body (despite sleeping on the streets!) and a willingness to work.

Meet Chang Siw Lin @ Cheong Chew Lin!

Uncle Cheong was not very willing to talk too much about his past. He mentioned that he has a daughter who he has not heard from in almost seven years. Uncle Cheong said that many years ago, he was a successful businessman who focused on cuttlefish distributing. Being constantly outstation to sell his products, he entrusted his wife and brother-in-law to run the daily operations in his office. He was shocked to find out that they had been misusing his company’s money for gambling. In debt and unable to repay what he owed to his suppliers due to his poor cashflow, Uncle Cheong had to bear the pain of watching his company collapsing. He then fell into depression and divorced his wife, who took their daughter with her.

Left: Raj, the person in charge, interviewing and registering Uncle Cheong Right: Raj, Uncle Cheong, Justin, Uncle Ong and Khor at Ti-Ratana after Uncle Cheong was registered

With his consent, KSK sent Uncle Cheong to Ti-Ratana, where he was introduced to Uncle Ong Teong Chooi whom we sheltered nearly six months ago. Uncle Ong readily agreed to take care of him and be Uncle Cheong’s buddy, looking out for his well-being. Uncle Cheong thanked KSK for helping him sorting out his problem and finding him a new place to stay. He said he will be walking up and down the hill near Ti-Ratana for exercise, and will help to man the area in return for Ti-Ratana’s kindness of accepting him.