Raba'ah's Plea

Ustazah Raba'ah Abdul Aziz who, together with her husband Ustaz Zawawi Ramli, co-founded shelter home Rumah Amal Limpahan Kasih in Puchong, Selangor Darul Ehsan in 2006.



Frankly, it was an insignificant effort on my part. All I ever did was write about it, which was nothing to shout about since the article also served my own admittedly selfish interest of filling my blog pages.

I had not expected the cascading effect from such a trivial (to my mind) post. I only learned about it after a recent meeting (our fourth in just as many years) with the gutsy lady in the thick of it all, within whose slight frame dwells a heart overflowing with love and compassion.

Comely ustazah Raba'ah Abdul Aziz cut a pretty picture, which was hardly surprising considering she once owned a boutique. But from a house of fashion to a house chockful of orphans and destitutes, that was some incredible journey she had made.

In 2007, whilst serving Tan Sri Muhyiddin Charity Golf (here) as its public relations consultant, I had singled out Rumah Amal Limpahan Kasih (here) as one of the beneficiaries of TSMCG's annual donation drive.

Last year, our paths crossed again when a close friend informed that the shelter home needed rice to feed its 100 inmates. Ramadan was then around the corner and the home was running on empty.

In this land of plenty, with Baitulmal (here) dragging its feet despite having half a billion ringgit of zakat (property tax/tithe) money that ought to have been disbursed quickly and evenly to help the needy, this orphanage's lack of rice was particularly galling to note.

The problem faced by the home was further compounded by the fact that it also provided assistance to some 100 single mothers and mualaf (Muslim convert) wives abandoned by their husbands.

To these unfortunate women and their children, Rumah Amal Limpahan Kasih was their lifeline. It was to the shelter they turned to when they ran out of food and money.

We brought TV3 into the picture and the story appeared on primetime news not long after. Almost immediately, Bernas dispatched a truckful of rice to the home. Many generous Malaysians also came forward to help. Syukur, Alhamdulillah.

Two months ago this blog highlighted a company that markets an American-manufactured cleaning device called FilterQueen (here), for the simple reason that I was impressed enough with what the contraption could do to remove dust mites.

Last month, the FilterQueen management requested a meeting with yours truly to convey their appreciation for the blogpiece and to ask for help in identifying a suitable charity for a monetary donation.

Visions of solemn-eyed boys and girls of Rumah Amal Limpahan Kasih immediately came to fore. I placed a call to Raba'ah to convey the good news from FilterQueen and we met a few days later to hand over the cheque.

Thanking the donor profusely, she said the money was timely. "Every year it's the same, Kak. We would have enough to get by when the new year began but our coffer would dry up a month or two before Ramadan.

"Things usually got back on track after Hari Raya when money came in from Muslim well-wishers who paid their zakat direct to charitable bodies like ours."

Despite the ever-present challenges, Raba'ah and Zawawi persevered. In fact, they had just established another shelter, Rumah Sentuhan Budi, in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

The orphanage, located in two adjoining semi-detached units rented at RM2,000 per month, currently houses 20 underprivileged children, mostly orphans.

"If we keep thinking about obstacles, we would never get anywhere, Kak. We would rather get started and deal with the problems as we move along. Kepada Allah kami berserah."

Raba'ah and her team now have 140 orphans, wargamas (old folks) and destitutes under their wing at the two homes, and this number does not include the non-residential dependents.

Nearly 100 single mothers and 10 abandoned mualaf wives, as well as two cancer-stricken mothers (also abandoned by their respective husbands) also latch their hopes on Raba'ah and Zawawi.

One of the two ailing mothers is now completely bedridden and depends entirely on Rumah Amal Limpahan Kasih to survive. Although very sick, she is raising six children on her own.

Raba'ah said the single mom does receive welfare support but it isn't enough, because her medication alone costs almost RM100 a month.

She reiterated that the shelter never turned anybody away, no matter how straitened its own circumstances. She said the poor was always at their door, mostly for beras (rice).

"People need to eat, that's reality. We need foodstuff and household items, Kak. If only we have people who could sponsor fish, chicken, eggs, flour, detergents .... everyday stuff, we'd be very grateful indeed."

For the new shelter in Sentul, among its immediate needs are a grass cutting machine ("the yard needs constant trimming to avoid snakes"), a photocopier ("we do a lot of printing & photostating for the children' s schooling and lessons") and some computers.

Please let me know if there are any available for donation. Alternatively you can contact Puan Nora, who manages the Sentul shelter, at 016-3079287.

Rumah Amal Limpahan Kasih
Lot 115, Lorong Bistari 5
Kg Sri Aman, Jalan Jurutera
Batu 13, 47100 Puchong

Tel: 03-80618050
Fax: 03-80607514

Ustazah Raba'ah Abdul Aziz (019-2227339)
Ustaz Zawawi Ramli (016-3627913)

Bank Account:
Maybank 512343531956 under "Rumah Limpahan Kasih"