When Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced an additional allocation of RM100 million to help rebuild Gaza, I knew he would be taken to task by a handful of Malaysians over the next few days.
I was right. One Malay Youtuber, well known for being frank, and a few Chinese personalities took up the issue. Their argument was that charity should begin at home.
They contend that there are many Malaysians who are in dire need and claim that the prime minister, in an attempt to gain popularity among the Malays, is sidelining the poor here to help another community outside the country.
My initial reaction was simply of surprise that my own people — educated and well off ones to boot — are questioning the need to aid the people of a country devastated by war.
In this article, I wish to share my ideas of charity, duty and responsibility based on my own life, family and community.
I hope I am not seen as blowing my own horn by listing the acts of charity I undertake since there is no other way to write this article.
I once thought my financial responsibilities would be over once my children stepped into adulthood. I was wrong. Far from it.
Some of my children had jobs but were retrenched during the pandemic, while others were simply struggling to make ends meet. Out of five children that my wife and I raised, only one is financially independent.
As a result, I would spend a total of RM6,000 a month to ease their burdens by paying their car loan instalments, fuel and helping them with their household expenses. I also allocate some money for the needs of my grandchildren.
Now, is what I am doing for them considered charity? I do not think so. Not for one minute. They are after all my flesh and blood and I am their father and grandfather.
As long as I live, my money and income would still belong to my children, no two ways about it. I am currently making plans, with the resources I have, to ensure that they are all financially secure in three years’ time.
So, what I have done is not charity, but plainly and simply my duty. It is my duty as a father to help my children as best as I can.
I also set aside funds for my 62-year old younger sister, whose husband is unable to work following a stroke.
My father once told me that my three sisters were my responsibility once he passed on.
I have only two sisters left, the elder of whom lives with her daughter and four grandkids in Johor.
My elder sister is the same age as Anwar, 77, and she is becoming frailer by the day. Her daughter and son-in-law are both working, and get by on their salaries.
I told my niece that I would compensate her for quitting her job to look after my sister should she become bedridden.
Now, is helping my two sisters charity? I think it is again, my duty, as a brother and as a son entrusted with that very duty by his father.
My wife and I are also taking care of a poor young couple with six children.
We have given them thousands of ringgit, and now I pay the husband RM1,300 per month to keep my garden and clean my house. The husband is a freelance mechanic with no fixed income. One hour a day at my house helps put food on the table for his family.
At the end of the year, I would ask my wife to transfer RM2,000 as our “zakat” money. I always ask my wife to remind the other party never to say thank you. This is because in Islam, zakat is not charity but an obligatory act of worship to God.
At Hari Raya, I would ask my wife to transfer RM1,000 to the family for our “fidyah” money. Fidyah is the money that a Muslim spends to feed a hungry person for a day for all the days that a Muslim is unable to fast.
My wife and I are unable to fast because of our health and so Islam teaches us to help feed others during Ramadan. Bearing that in mind, are these “zakat” and “fidyah” charitable contributions? No, they are my responsibility as a Muslim and as a Malaysian.
Thus, none of the acts I have carried out constitutes “charity” in the strictest sense.
My children and sisters are my duty, and the poor family I know is my responsibility. When we help someone, remember that we are helping ourselves more, and thus, our acts cease to become charity.
They are instead a call of duty and a responsibility.
As for Anwar giving away RM100 million to the Palestinians, let me ask my fellow Malaysians one question.
Are there not at least one million Malaysians who have RM100 to spare — either for charity or out of duty or responsibility? I am sure there are. In fact I think six or seven million Malaysians could spare such an amount.
So if one million Malaysians can give aid to the poor in Malaysia to the tune of RM100, then we have given RM100 million on our own.
We do not need to wait for Anwar or government aid. Helping other Malaysians should be our patriotic duty.
So here are two questions for Anwar’s detractors.
Why are we so keen to nitpick when our prime minister wants to help the Palestinians? Do the Palestinians need money to rebuild their broken homes? Yes, of course! Don’t we also have to be an example to other countries in the hope that they do the same?
Secondly, why are we losing sleep over the RM100 million that is going to the Palestinians instead of the poor back home? Why are YOU not helping our poor? Is it not your responsibility and duty?
The RM100 million to me is both a duty and a responsibility for humanity’s sake. The RM100 million therefore is not charity.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
