Category: Humanity Interviews

“I do not mind having to forego or give up anything, I just want the best for the children. That is the only thing I can do for them.”

Hundreds of colourful photographs lined the entire staircase, from the ground floor towards the first floor, exhibiting precious moments Lisa spent with her children over the past two decades. Now in her forties, Lisa has fostered and legally adopted 20 children, bringing them up alongside three of her own. She shouldered the huge responsibility of accompanying and supervising them, providing them with a beloved home and legal identity. 

Cheerful and outgoing Lisa gets along favourably with people of all ages, always regarded as a sister. Being born into a poor family, Lisa is more mature than her peers. Her father passed away when she was 13 years old, then she earned a living by tutoring kids in her neighbourhood. After graduating from high school, she worked while completing secretarial training. However, the dull work did not suit her lively personality, therefore she went to teach kindergarten, and obtained a childcare centre license through furthering her studies. In 2000, together with her 6-month-old son, Lisa rented a house to start her first childcare centre.

Apart from enterprise operations, Lisa is active in charity work. She volunteers for a number of charity homes, as well as the Social Welfare Department, where she assists children and the elderly in applications for aid. Lisa is also proactive in charity bazaars, managing and arranging contributed materials for the needy, not to mention casket contribution. Mocking herself as inquisitive and hyperactive, whenever Lisa comes across begging elderly or abandoned babies, she brings them to the police station to lodge reports. Then she brings them to the hospital for a health check, and gets the Social Welfare Department to make necessary follow-up arrangements. She firmly believes and hopes that children will grow up in a loving environment, with good upbringing and education, to be their own masters.

The first incidence of Lisa’s adopted children was 20 years ago, involving an in-home daycare child among others in her childcare centre, whose parents vanished months after entrusting their 1-month-old baby to the centre. Lisa lodged a police report, and decided to continue taking care of the child after lack of follow-up. She thought: since I run a childcare centre, it is only another mouth to feed, no big deal. She ended up legally adopting the child.

As children are continually being abandoned at her doorstep, some suffered domestic abuse while others have parents who could not provide for them, Lisa took them in with open arms. Gradually realizing that cruel reality results in such social issues, she opened a bank account dedicated to charity works, depositing her earnings and contributions from her friends to help vulnerable children and elderly. She also helps stateless people and penniless families, so that they have means of surviving.

After toiling for 20 years, and most of her kids being grown up, Lisa decided to close all three of her childcare centres towards the end of 2019, retaining the site in Serdang as a warehouse to store contributed materials pending transfer to wherever needed. Following several months of semi-retirement, with her son’s encouragement, her charity work over the years materialized into the founding of Suriaku Children’s Protection Society in April 2020. The concept being a temporary shelter for the needy in their period of transition, where they reintegrate into society after solving problems which they faced. Suriaku is an asylum, a contributed goods hub, the outcome of Lisa’s 20 years of volunteering.

Lisa aspires to expand Suriaku across all Malaysian states, in order to benefit more needful folk. She shared her vision with the Social Welfare Department, hoping to attract more good Samaritans to join in the effort. Apart from that, Lisa intends to undertake law studies, after which she could provide direct assistance to the disadvantaged community, especially female victims of intimidation and domestic violence. Instead of superficial support which dissolved after a while, their concerns could be thoroughly addressed.

Even though no longer having to rush around her childcare centres, her children, and various government offices, Lisa retains her passion towards life and its surroundings. Her kind acts and attentions lessened the burdens of the disadvantaged community. Lisa shines like a blazing flame, lighting the path for the needful, providing them a shelter full of love and warmth.

Suriaku Children’s Protection Society
Persatuan Perlindungan Kanak-Kanak Suriaku Selangor
No. 1633, Jalan SK 11/3,
43300, Seri Kembangan,
Selangor

Suriaku Children’s Protection Society Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/lisahewcharitywork

Lisa Hew Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TaskaSuriaku

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Amelia Lim
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Music : 《Romantic Piano》

COPYRIGHTS 2021 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

20 years ago, a virus outbreak destroyed the hard work of several generations in Bukit Pelanduk, reaping the lives of over 100 swine farmers and their families within three short months. The government then declared curfews and evacuated villagers from the stricken region, taking swift actions to contain the epidemic. Professor Dato’ Dr Tan Chong Tin led an investigating team from University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) to scrutinize and analyze the afflicted. Later on, the virus was proven to be a new type of mutating virus which mainly infects the lungs and brain of patients, previously misdiagnosed as Japanese Encephalitis (JE), therefore it was named Nipah Virus after the place where the first case originated.

In early 1999 during the rapid spread of Nipah virus, more than 100 patients from Bukit Pelanduk and Kampung Baru Sungai Nipah who seemed to suffer from acute encephalitis were hospitalized at UMMC. During clinical treatment, as a neurologist Dr Tan found out that the disease transmission was different from JE, hence he directed the medical team to perform an in-depth study. There is no overnight success in the research field, after 2-3 weeks of observation, the medical team finally shed some light on the new virus. Working under tremendous pressure, the medical team carried out various tests during the intense virus outbreak, attempting to find out effective treatment and prevention methods. Frontline medical personnel also had to bear the risks and fears of being in contact with patients, in the face of unprecedented and unknown virus, it was immensely stressful to be doing extensive first-hand research.

Newly discovered worldwide, there was no prior reference for Nipah virus. Its etiology, symptoms, transmission, hazards, and treatment were inconceivable. Under Dr Tan’s guidance, the UMMC investigating team made a ground-breaking revelation that the Nipah virus derived from livestock —— SARS coronavirus in bats. Due to cross-species mutation, the virus easily defeats the human body’s immune system, infections occur with rapid onset, finally spreading among humans.

The UMMC investigating team did a comprehensive study on Nipah virus, the results of their research benefited countries such as Bangladesh and India where Nipah virus outbreaks happened. As a tool to assist in diagnosis, they could then accurately administer medicine and take precautionary measures. This investigating team led by Dr Tan won the Mahathir Science Award in 2006, as well as the Merdeka Award for Health, Science, and Technology in 2008, accomplishing prestigious honours. Since the outbreak till having gained recognition, Dr Tan and team did not cease their efforts in research. Apart from returning to the village to check on villagers who recovered from the epidemic, they also contributed and joined in research in other afflicted countries.

A few months ago, Dr Tan and doctors from his medical team attended <Nipah Virus 20th Anniversary Review and Sharing Session with Experts> held last year, recounting past incidents and disclosing follow-up research to increase public awareness and understanding of the virus. In the same year, Dr Tan received the title of Emeritus Professor from University Malaya and the 6th Tan Kah Kee Award, also the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences in 2017. Dr Tan’s contributions in medical and cultural fields are acknowledged, concurrently he is active in promoting the rich culture and history of the local Chinese community.

At present, the Covid-19 pandemic accelerates and spreads widely, with confirmed cases across all continents globally, severely affecting our daily lives and even the world’s economy. In today’s globalization and high population mobility, not only does it escalate the infection rate of the virus, it also largely increases the difficulty of prevention.

Only with enhanced personal alertness and hygiene practice, ruling out unverified news among the flood of information, ensuring accurate intelligence is obtained from official or authoritative channels. Besides, gain basic understanding of the virus to avoid believing in alarmist talk and eliminate unnecessary worries. Dr Tan also reminds that apart from getting treatment, attention and aid must be given to both physical and psychological health of the patients’ family members. Together we weather the storm through mutual support and encouragement.

【Official and Authoritative Information Channels】
Ministry of Health of Malaysia
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia
官网：http://www.moh.gov.my/
Twitter：https://twitter.com/KKMPutrajaya
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/kementeriankesihatanmalaysia/

World Health Organization（WHO）
English：https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Chinese：https://www.who.int/zh/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Evon Pang
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Music : Sean Beeson

COPYRIGHTS 2020 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD

In the northwest of Kuala Kubu Bharu, driving along the federal route No. 1 for about 30 minutes, you will arrive at Tanjung Malim, where Puppetku House Malaysia nests. The black exterior stands out but maintains a low key profile in the row of shophouses, home to a wide range of puppets that Dr Loy Chee Luen sourced locally and also from countries all around the world, more than 300 types, and is a puppet museum rarely seen in Malaysia.

Although the single lot double-storey Puppetku House may seem small, it gives a complete overall experience. Near the entrance is a showroom displaying Malaysians in all sorts of traditional costumes; the middle section is a resource centre housing puppets from all over the world and their related reading materials, which is also the main place of activity; at the back is a workshop and storeroom; and a mini theatre upstairs, to stage plays and convene. 

Puppetku House Malaysia is the brainchild of Dr Loy, who puts hard work and efforts in its creation. He is currently employed as a lecturer at UPSI, where he is senior lecturer of early childhood educational arts and creativity, as well as associate professor in preschool education. He has expertise in the fields of puppetry drama, theatre studies, and childhood theatre. Dr Loy is extremely enthusiastic about puppetry, he pursues his passion in puppetry after writing his masters thesis on the subject. He delves into research and practise on the educational skills and usage of puppets, for instance in class teaching, psychiatric counselling, and oral care, for both professionals and hobbyists to use in combination. 

Dr Loy established Puppetku’s Theatre Malaysia in 2003. He is actively participating in showcases and conferences both nationwide and worldwide, such as the World Puppetry Festival, Malaysia International Puppetry Festival, Rainforest World Puppet Carnival et cetera. Dr Loy is committed to the development and advocacy of puppetry, and is dedicated to related studies and shows. Besides, he founded UNIMA Malaysia and MPA – Malaysian Puppetry Association, putting in all his efforts to popularise puppetry.

The term ‘Puppetku’ is derived from the english word puppet and malay word ‘aku’, meaning my puppet. From falling in love with puppetry to engaging in the publicising of puppetry, he endures numerous hardships to achieve his hard-earned success. To date, he upholds his mission, adheres to his vision, oversees and contributes to his cause.

For tour reservations, please drop an enquiry at Puppetku House Malaysia official Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PuppetKu-House-Malaysia-酷偶屋-2036494066660988/

Text: Daniel Lim & Pua Hui Wen

有你 UNI Production
Producer : Mok Yii Chek
Coordinator : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Evon Pang
Production Assistant : Michael Lerk
Video Editor : Michael Lerk
Music : A Day To Remember from BenSound

COPYRIGHTS 2019 ECHINOIDEA SDN BHD