For more than two decades, 70-year-old charity worker Chuang Pei Hua (transliterate) has been spending her time helping poor families and elderly people in Bentong, even as her own health has become more challenging.
Dealing with heart problems, joint pain and high blood pressure, Chuang could easily have slowed down.
Instead, she continues riding her motorcycle into local communities, checking on families in need and personally delivering supplies whenever she can. Her motivation comes from her own childhood.
“I came from a poor family. There were days when we didn’t even have enough money for food, and those days were really difficult,” she said. That experience made her more determined to help people going through similar struggles. Rather than simply handing out aid, Chuang also tries to understand what each family is going through. When possible, she helps them apply for government assistance and connects them with charities and individuals who can provide further support.
She helps people others may not notice
As a social worker, Chuang does not only wait for people to come looking for help. She also visits communities to identify families and elderly people who may be struggling quietly without asking anyone for assistance.
Over the years, her work has not always been easy. She has faced criticism, insults and accusations while carrying out her charity work, leaving her upset and discouraged at times. But she said she chooses not to dwell on what people say.
“I have a clear conscience. I don’t care what others say about me. The Bodhisattva walks with me.” For Chuang, that belief has kept her going even when things get difficult.
Her health may have changed, but her routine hasn’t
As she gets older, friends and family have encouraged her to slow down and take better care of herself. But Chuang still insists on doing things herself.
She visits beneficiaries, delivers supplies and checks on their living conditions, while staying in touch so she can step in again when help is needed.
Her work in Bentong’s six new villages has also made her a familiar partner for the Sin Chew Daily Foundation and Blessing Culture Foundation, which have worked with her on charity programmes supporting families in the area.
A motorcycle arrives when she needs it most
Chuang’s determination recently caught the attention of people around her after she struggled to get onto her motorcycle because of her painful joints.
On one occasion, foundation representative Xiao Yi Zhao (transliterate) witnessed her lose her balance and fall while trying to get on. Xiao later approached a motorcycle shop owner in Selangor for help. The owner agreed to provide Chuang with a second-hand automatic motorcycle at a heavily reduced price, along with a raincoat and motorcycle box. He chose to remain anonymous.
The timing made the gesture even more meaningful, the motorcycle arrived at the Choy Yu Club on Chuang’s birthday. She had already been thinking about getting an automatic motorcycle because her painful legs made it difficult to get on and balance a regular motorcycle.
“I’m very grateful to her and the motorcycle shop owner for being so thoughtful. This gift means a lot to me, and I’m very grateful,” she said.
Even on a tight budget, they make room for others
Chuang and her husband, Chan Shi Kang (transliterate), are both retired, while the Choy Yu Club operates as a non-profit organisation without a fixed income. The club relies largely on donations and support from members of the public and other organisations.
Despite limited funds, the club continues to subscribe to a copy of Sin Chew Daily for elderly visitors to read. Chuang considers the newspaper “food for the mind”, saying it is something the club wants to maintain even when money is tight. The club also receives regular donations of organic vegetables from Uncle Andy Organic Farm in Gohtong Jaya, which are delivered every Monday before being distributed to elderly people and families in need.
During the first and 15th days of the lunar month, Fayu Temple and other kind-hearted donors also provide hundreds of vegetarian meal boxes to help families facing financial difficulties. Chuang said she is grateful to everyone who has supported her work over the years.
Their support, she said, has given her the strength to continue going into the community and helping people who need a little extra support.
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