The littlest deeds can make the biggest difference in someone’s day, especially to those who are in need during this time of crisis.
Recently, the charitable act by Corporal Muhammad Syazwan Ahmad Saifudin was highlighted on social media when he decided to help out a Pakistani man who was stopped at a police roadblock.
At about 9pm, a motorcyclist was stopped at a roadblock at the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway Lunas Toll Plaza. After he had shown Syazwan his identification, Syazwan asked him where he was headed. The man broke down in tears and told Syazwan that he was heading to Taman Sejahtera in Lunas to borrow some money from a friend to feed his wife and three children at home who had not eaten in two days after he had lost his source of income due to the MCO.
Syazwan decided to help the man by giving him a small donation in the form of basic necessities as well as some cash to ease the man's distress.
“That’s when it hit me. I myself am also a father to three children and I put myself in his shoes,” Syazwan told the Malay Mail.
“He apologised to me and my supervisor and admitted that he knew he was breaking the MCO.”
“I could have him arrested for breaking the MCO but my instinct told me that the man was telling the truth and this man was really in need."
Syazwan asked for his supervisor's permission to help the man as he went back to the precinct to gather some essential groceries for the desperate man.
Photo: Facebook Penang Netizen
Now, Syazwan told the Malay Mail that he has decided to do his part to help the needy by preparing five packages of essential items such as rice, cooking oil, condensed milk, tea, coffee, sugar, flour and instant noodles, to give those in need while manning roadblocks in Kulim, Kedah.
Syazwan, who is from Ampang, was raised by a single mother. His mother took care of him after his parents divorced, so he understands too well some of the hardships that people go through. He has been serving in Kulim for 13 years and has expressed his intention to help out those who are in need especially since the MCO began.
Photo: Malay Mail
“I meet civilians almost every day and I always listen to their problems especially those with their own small businesses," he said.
“My intention has always been to help these people with what I can even though it’s not much but at least it can be of help even in the slightest way.”
“I’m grateful for everything, even though I don’t have that big of an income, but it is still enough for me and my family,” he added.
When asked on social media as to why he did not arrest the Pakistani man for breaking the MCO, Syazwan replied that he preferred to investigate further before making any arrest.
“Police are also normal human beings. I am not Superman, I am not Batman, I have a heart and feelings too. Even if it’s a long day, discretion is still crucial when I’m on duty and that is my opinion as a police officer."
Way to go! We are lucky to have people like Syazwan serving the nation.
By: Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
