A coffee shop owner in Kuching, Sarawak has been bearing the brunt of this pandemic as his business is getting worse due to the Movement Control Order (MCO). He can only earn about RM40 to RM50 a day, but his concern is for his grandma, who needs special supplements for her diet.
“My business is getting worse during this pandemic. I barely can pay for the shop loan and other commitments. I can only earn like RM40 to RM50 per day, but that doesn’t matter. I need help not for myself but for my grandma,” he said.
Chua Kai Voon shared with WORLD OF BUZZ that he hardly has enough money to purchase the things his 87-year-old grandma needs and hopes to get enough funds to be able to support and provide for her.
Suffers from malnutrition
He said his grandma was admitted to the hospital last year due to malnutrition. Doctors discovered that her digestive system was unable to absorb nutrients from solid food and said that she needed to be put on a liquid diet and supplements in order for her to survive. The doctor and a nutritionist then recommended a particular kind of milk to ease her digestive system.
On top of that, Chua said that his grandma also needs Ensure milk, Berocca vitamins, Caltrate Calcium supplements for her osteoporosis and probiotics, all of which costs a lot of money.
“I only hope there’s help to provide these for her for like one or two months,” he said.
Chua told WORLD OF BUZZ that one can of milk costs about RM100 and it can only last for two weeks. He needs approximately RM1,000 for two months so that he can buy these supplements for his grandma.
When asked how his grandma is coping during the lockdown, Chua said that she has been feeling depressed and constantly complains about dizziness and vertigo.
“Sometimes she refuses to drink the milk but I have to force her to. Because when she said she wanted to go to the toilet, I noticed that there’s nothing. So it means she didn’t eat well. I have to force her to drink the milk and supplements,” he said.
“I want her to live healthily”
“I just hope I can get help by covering some of the expenses to buy the milk and supplements for her. I don’t ask for much. Just covering some of the expenses would be sufficient as I want her to live healthily.”
“It’s kind of sad to see her sick if she’s malnourished. I know the supplements are kind of expensive, but I have no choice. That’s the only option I have to give her to eat and provide nutrients to her body.”
Chua shared that he is an animal husbandry science graduate and was working as an animal science technologist. However, he had to quit his job and take the role as head of the family after his father passed away four years ago.
He has since taken over his father’s coffee shop business and is currently living with his mother and grandmother. Even though his shop provides takeaway, he gets very few customers because his shop is located in a rural area.
Chua hopes that he can get enough funds to provide for his grandma for two months, which totals to about RM1,000.
How you can help
If you’re in a position to help Chua in any way, donations can be transferred to his bank account:
Chua Kai Voon
Maybank
111234181259
Ambank
8881039633133
Note: Chua’s Maybank account has been blocked for the time being as it has exceeded the number of transfers allowed. If your donation is unable to get through to his Maybank account, you can make the transfer to his Ambank account as stated above.
You can also contact him at 017-803 3022 to enquire further.
Additionally, if you’re in Kuching, do pay his coffee shop a visit to help his business stay afloat.
Name: Hua Ping Cafe
Address: No. 208, RPR Batu 12, Jalan Kuching/Serian, 93250, Kuching, Sarawak
As part of the #KempenBenderaPutih, WORLD OF BUZZ is doing our part to help individuals in need. If you are in need of help, or if you know someone who is in need of help, or you want to offer help, click here.
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