Petaling Jaya, Apr 27 (Sin Chew Daily) — Local internet celebrity Tai Zee How is harnessing the social media to launch the #TampalJurangBPN (closing the gap for Prihatin assistance) to help some 700 starving families, up to 1,000 people across the country within a week during the movement control order (MCO). Tai, who boasts 256,000 Facebook followers on his "Ulasan Apek Cina" page, posts in Bahasa Malaysia, telling starving families to provide him with information such as their names, home addresses and family conditions.

He then coordinate with local volunteers to deliver food to the families.

"I can't guarantee but I will find the resources as much as I can for you," he said.

Whenever he receives calls for help, his team will be asking a series of questions such as how much food is left at home, and how many children are not having milk. He will then request for pictures of the kitchen, food remaining and the children's back picture.

Some have been referred to him by their neighbors. The team would also request their neighbors to help verify the answers provided.

Tai said many families which have received help from his team would eventually join the team to help others in distress. While they may not have the financial capabilities to donate food, they are willing to help in delivering the food to the needy recipients.

Tai has since received applications from more than 2,000 families. Many are in dire need. More than 100 volunteers have offered to help physically or financially.

Four volunteers are responsible for verifying details provided by the applicants. About 50 volunteers fork out the money and transport food; 60 are making the donations, while 30 offer to help collect the donations and deliver food to the recipients.

Tai told Sin Chew Daily a poor family in Klang living without clean water supply, electricity and toilet, has been left with no income since the start of the MCO but yet to receive any cash assistance from the government.

"Don't be misled by Astro's publicity about the TV and cable service donated by a good Samaritan several years ago. The cable service was only for one year, and the family is so poor that it sold the TV later," he added.

Datuk Tan Kok Koon, who also lives in Klang, subsequently delivered the food and other aid items to the family in person.

Tai also revealed that some of the applicants even own cars and homes. When such applicants are rejected, they respond with nasty words.

"But we have peace of mind when we receive the positive feedback from donors and the photographs from those who have sought help from us," he said.

A donor from Johor said when he delivered the rice, milk powder and food to a poor family, the head of the family knelt in at the door and cried for several minutes holding the pack of rice.

In another case in Sabah, when the volunteer delivered food to a beneficiary family, the volunteer topped up another RM100 from his own pocket when he realized that someone in the family was ill. The family was without water and electricity supply. When the family received the cash donation, it split the food worth RM200 into four parts to be shared with three other poor families!

Tai also showed a series of photographs that a volunteer by the name of Shariff took. Shariff delivered food and goods to 94 families in Sabah. 

He even posted a sticker on the box: COVID-19 aid, thank you, Apek Cina.

He lamented that these people, who had been drawing daily wages prior to the MCO, began to starve after the first two weeks.

"We are very fortunate and should be grateful. I am doing my best to help," he said.

Tai said he is not an elected representative nor representing any non-governmental organization. He only hopes to help those in need.