LETTER | All my life, I have known that there are things in life that I can only choose to accept. 

Never have I complained about the hardships that made me who I am today. I would rather be grateful for those experiences for teaching me to appreciate the little things in life. 

Once my wife and I had saved enough, we started our own business, a retail shop that is still operating today. It was hard the first few years, and the only loan that we could secure was refinancing our house. 

For 11 years, we had worked 12 hours a day, six days a week. We never went overseas, never indulged in luxuries, just short trips every now and then.

When the pandemic hit last year, we tried our best to cope. After the first MCO, we were allowed to operate as our business category was listed as essential. 

As all business owners know, being able to operate doesn’t necessarily mean there is income. Sales dipped terribly especially at the turn of the year. Those few months burnt everything we had saved over the years. 

It hit us that if we were stressed out like this, those less fortunate would have suffered even more. It was then we started buying food to help those in need every day. With whatever we saved, we used the money to get more and more food.

For 377 consecutive days, I worked without taking a single day off. That streak ended recently as we need to stay at home due to the latest MCO. Complying with the SOPs, I have not been able to visit my mom for over a year. 

I believe similar to what I had experienced above, millions have also gone through the same journey, plus or minus some differences. 

Just like what I had mentioned in the beginning, I know that there are things that I can only choose to accept. To accept, without questioning, without complaining and be compliant.

Today, however, I plead with whoever can make a difference, the people need help. Covid-19 took thousands of lives. Enough have died. Enough have committed suicide. Enough have lost their homes. Enough have gone bankrupt. Enough have gone into depression. Enough have lost their sanity. Enough have lost their loved ones. Enough have all of us lost …

Again I plead, to whoever is able, act now to give hope to the hopeless. It is time to act. Whatever that you can do now, please do it now. Whatever you would like to, you can take your time to tinker over it. But whatever you are able to, please do it now.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.