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KUALA LUMPUR, 6 October 2010 – The Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Dato’ Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, fulfilled the final two pledges she made under the Truly Loving Company’s Promise Me Campaign, to which the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development is an active partner.

The campaign aims to facilitate the engagement of young Malaysians in the communities they belong to, and channel their collective energies toward making a difference, no matter how small. As a campaign partner, Dato’ Sri Shahrizat on behalf of the Ministry, agreed to personally fulfil 3 pledges. Today, the Minister fulfilled the wishes of 32-year old Vimalnathan and Madam Chong Moi Yoke, a stroke survivor.

Vimalnathan, a resident of the Handicapped and Mentally Retarded Children Centre Selangor, currently suffers from pains in his legs due to poor mobility and poor blood circulation. He would like nothing better than to have a comfortable easy chair that would alleviate his ever present discomfort.

Madam Chong, a widow living with her family in Petaling Jaya, spends most of her time alone with her maid while her son is at work and her 18-year old grandchild is at college. Her fondest wish is to spend quality time with her family in the countryside away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Dato’ Sri Shahrizat fulfilled both wishes: she presented Vimalnathan with an easy chair and Madam Chong with a weekend package at the Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort for her entire family. She said,

“I hope that my personal journey together with participating youths from all walks of life and caring corporations will show fellow Malaysians that lending a helping hand to the underprivileged among us is rewarding and ultimately strengthens our ties to the communities that we belong to”.

One of my pledges is to two orphan boys from Rumah Aman, Ahmad Amri bin Arbain, 10, and Aidil Alfiat bin Yaziz, 6.

Originally from Chendering Balai, Perak, Amri is 10 years old and was born on 16^th October 2000. In October 2006, he arrived at Rumah Aman at the age of 6. He has parents, two sisters and two brothers. Amri is currently in Year 4 and goes to Sekolah Kebangsaan Raja Muda in Shah Alam. Amri is doing very well in his lessons and is first in his class every year. From what he’s told me, he loves his Game Boy, roti canai and nasi lemak (in that order!).  When he grows up, Amri aspires to become an ustaz, Alhamdulillah.

Aidil is the younger of the two – he is 6 years old. He came to Rumah Aman in June 2008 to join his elder brother Mohamad Ikmal Rashid. Aidil receives his pre-school education at the same school as Amri – Sekolah Kebangsaan Raja Muda in Shah Alam. A Pisces, his birthday falls on 12 March 2003.His favourite thing to do in the evenings is play football, and Aidil loves eating Maggie Mee noodles. Aidil’s ambition is to one day become a doctor.

Being the exuberant young boys they are, what these two wished for the most was to see a squad of soldiers march across the Rumah Aman grounds.

Making it happen

I met up with Dato’ Seri Zahid Hamidi, and spoke to him about TLC’s Promise Me Campaign. Of course, he had no objections and willingly offered the services of his office to help make the arrangements.

My office sent in a letter to make an official request, and soon after Dato Sri Zahid Hamidi’s office connected with us to organise the details of the event. I thought it might be a wonderful idea to organise the event closer to Merdeka. The army boys were so enthusiastic about the idea, but wanted to provide the boys with more than just a march across the lawn. So I was more than delighted when they suggested inviting the entire orphanage to witness the pre-Merdeka raptai (full dress rehearsal)!

29^th August: Event Day!

The day of the event is finally here. Today, I was able to fulfil my pledge to two young boys from Rumah Aman , Ahmad Amri bin Albain, 10, and Aidil Alfiat bin Yaziz, 6, whose wish was to see a squadron of marching soldiers up close and personal. I must thank Defence Minister, Dato’ Seri Zahid Hamidi, who in reflecting the true spirit of nationhood assisted me in bringing the entire orphanage to watch the full-dress rehearsals for the National Day Parade at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Together, we watched as the members of the Armed Forces, civil servants, students and volunteers from the private sector gave us a dazzling display of eight high impact segments including defence movements and various formations. The 30 orphans were very thrilled to see the armed forces in full military gear and wanted to meet them in person.

After the performance, we brought them face-to-face with the soldiers from the Royal Malay Regiment. It was a very touching moment when the orphans spontaneously went up to each of the men and paid their respects (salam tangan). One of the kids went on to ask, “Duit raya takde ke bang?” (what about duit raya?)

The Commanding Officer for the regiment’s 1^st Batallion, Lt-Col Muhammad Fauzi Ibrahim told me that he was honoured to share my journey in fulfilling the two boy’s wishes. “Our regiment’s motto is ‘feared and respected’. We are honoured to have commanded the love and respect of these boys and we are always prepared to play our role in serving the country and its people”.

The feedback that I obtained from the Rumah Aman staff was wonderful, and I’m happy to have made that possible.

Julia came to me a couple of months ago to ask me to launch the TLC Promise Me Campaign. It all started on an afternoon that was like many of my other afternoons, ones filled with endless meetings and events, I swooped into what I thought would be just another meeting. Upon sitting down, I was introduced to Julia Chong, the Chief Executive Officer of the Truly Loving Company. As we were talking, she began telling me about this unique entrepreneurship model she had created, one where she successfully yoked together commerce and charity for the benefit of community.

(Myself and Julia)

After she finished I asked her “So what can I do for you?” “Nothing Dato Sri” she said. “Just come and honour us with your presence and launch the campaign”. For those of you who are familiar with the Ministry I work for, you would know that we are never passive partners. TLC’s Promise Campaign has all the elements of equity and inclusiveness that we as a Ministry have been fighting so hard to embed into the heart of corporate Malaysia.

(With my two pledges, Ahmad Amri & Madam Chong, and Julia)

(Julia introducing me to the students of elc International School who are fulfilling the wishes of the less fortuntate)

Of course, creative ideas never fail to electrify me, and the idea behind the Promise Me Campaign, had me buzzing with excitement. And so it was, that I agreed to fulfil 3 pledges:

• Madam Chong Moi Yoke / NASAM PJ

(Wish printed on TLC Dishwash Bottle – Recovering stroke patients at NASAM understand that both the mind and body need to recover from their paralysis. Mrs Chong Moi Yoke believes that her full health and recovery will come from absorbing the richness and scenic views of the Malaysian countryside. She would like nothing more than an opportunity to do this.)

• Ahmad Amri and Aidil Alfiat / Rumah Aman

(Wish printed on TLC Toilet Bowl Cleaner bottle – Ahmad Amri and Aidil Alfiat’s irrepressible energies and imagination have them writing stories and playing out complex army manoeuvres. Their wish is for a squad of soldiers to parade across the grounds of Rumah Aman – their home.)

• Vimalnathan / PPKKTAJ, Ampang Jaya

(Wish printed on TLC Floor Cleaner bottle – 32 year old Vimalnathan was born mentally challenged. He also suffers from pains in his legs due to poor mobility and poor blood circulation. He would like nothing better than to have a comfortable easy chair that would alleviate his ever present discomfort.)

(Looking forward to fulfilling my 3 pledges together with my friends from AIESEC, elc International School, Nuffnang and TLC)