02/04/2026

THURSDAY | APR 2, 2026

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Group rescues three, expands plans

o Outreach continues through festive period as demand for accommodation surpasses expectations

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

homeless. She is now staying at The Sanctuary 2.” Another case involved a man found sleeping along a street in Medan Tuanku. He was first rescued and placed at Pusat Khidmat Gelandangan Medan Tuanku, with Food4U saying further arrangements were being made to move him into longer-term shelter support. “Food4U will bring him to The Sanctuary 1 and provide shelter, food and medical care.” The statement, however, did not provide further details on the third individual, but indicated that all three were assisted during the same outreach period. Lian also said the group was moving ahead with The Sanctuary 4 as demand for male shelter space continued to grow. “Food4U is embarking on The Sanctuary 4 as the occupancy for men has exceeded our expectations. “Compassion transcends race, religion and political affiliation.” Food4U was founded in 2015. According to its website, the ongoing project took off when Lian ran a soup kitchen out of his own kitchen with help from family and friends, initially distributing bread and water to about

PETALING JAYA: As the capital city recently marked its Chinese New Year and Aidilfitri celebrations, charity group Food4U said its weekly outreach to the disabled, poor and homeless continued on Kuala Lumpur’s margins. Its founder Tony Lian, 75, popularly known as Uncle Tony, said three homeless individuals were rescued and moved into shelter and medical care during the festive period. In a statement, he said the effort was carried out with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s Social Work Medical Department and members of the public, as Food4U continued serving dinner at its centres every week throughout the festive period. The group said the three individuals were placed at The Sanctuary 1 and The Sanctuary 2, where food, shelter and medical aid were provided. One of them was a homeless woman who had suffered severe burns and was treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital before later being placed under shelter care. “She has recovered and is

Food4U continues distributing food to the disables, poor and homeless during its weekly outreach throughout the festive period. – PIC COURTESY OF FOOD4U.

described his humanitarian efforts as an inspiration from his mother, who had once sheltered four homeless women despite the family’s own financial difficulties.

to 300 people with hot food, fresh fruits and vegetables, drinks and other necessities. In a separate earlier profile published by an English daily, Lian

80 people in the city centre. As demand grew, he brought in volunteers and expanded the operation. The group now has a 15 member team and is able to serve up

Public urged to donate blood, save lives SIBU: A paediatrician has urged more people to come forward as blood donors, stressing that every donation plays a crucial role in saving lives amid declining blood supplies. implemented conservation measures following a drop in donations over the past one to two months, particularly during the festive ‘Kong Xi Raya’ period.

cultural differences. “Blood does not recognise boundaries of class, race or belief. Once donated, it becomes a universal gift that can help anyone in need. Every drop counts.” He urged the public to donate regularly, emphasising that even a single contribution can make a significant difference. - Bernama

humbling, adding that good health should not be taken for granted. He said passing the screening process was itself a blessing, noting that some young individuals were unable to donate due to health issues such as high blood pressure. Toh also highlighted the universal nature of blood donation, saying it transcends social, racial and

“As doctors, we sometimes take for granted the availability of blood when we request it for patients, but in reality, supply depends entirely on voluntary donors,” he said in a Facebook post after participating in a blood donation drive here recently. Toh, who donated blood together with his wife, described the experience as meaningful and

He said while some individuals may feel uneasy at the sight or mention of blood, donating blood is a simple and cost-free act that many are able to do.

Paediatrician and head of the Clinical Research Centre at Sibu Hospital Dr Toh Teck Hock said the hospital’s blood bank had recently