Despite facing immense difficulties as a result of about 10% vision each, the altruism of Tan Chee Kiong, 47, and Mohd Nor Saiful Abdul Karim, 30, is a touching display of generosity, love and caring.

Tan, a freelance marketing consultant, and store assistant Nor Saiful each earn about RM2,000 monthly and have twice since July spent about half of their earnings to put food on the table for others.

They have donated rations to the disabled, the poor, the sick, the jobless and single mothers, all of whom were brought to their knees by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking to FMT on International Day of Charity on Sunday, Tan said while they may be blind, “we can hear the cries of people in distress”.

They listen to the news, hear what people say and go to the aid of the helpless.

Tan said there were about 200 desperate people on their hunger relief programme but only less than half of them have received aid due to money constraints.

He hoped sponsors would help them extend the food aid to deserving people in more areas on a regular basis.

Tan, who served as a member of the Johor Bahru Lions Club until 2017, said while awaiting support, they will continue with their efforts as and when they can afford to.

“My blindness has spurred me to achieve more in life and focus on kindness,” said Tan, whose eyesight began failing as a result of glaucoma in 2000.

Nor Saiful, who fell victim to glaucoma in 2013, said: “I feel sad when I hear about people being in more hardship than us, suffering from depression and young children committing suicide.

“We don’t have much but we do what we can to bring some relief to the needy,” said the father of a four-year-old girl and a four-month-old boy. His wife works in the same company as him.

Tan and Nor Saiful teamed up after they met each other through Buta World, a group of some 40 visually impaired people, set up by their blind leader, Fakhrul Ariffin Bakir.

They have a WhatsApp group in which members read their messages via applications that convert text to speech or text to Braille while Tan has a high-contrast 162.5 cm computer screen to read his.

Fakhrul, who is involved in training and re-training blind patients at Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom in Kluang, lost his sight 11 years ago from retinitis pigmentosa.

Tan said Fakhrul encouraged members to contribute or get involved in serving the community or the needy.

“Fakhrul suggested that Nor Saiful, from Pasir Gudang, and I would make a good team since various races will be involved in the food aid and also because of the close proximity of where we live,” he said.

With the help of volunteers and his family members, Tan verifies the credibility of each potential recipient and looks into the logistics while Nor Saiful deals with the Malay community.

Tan’s wife, Esther Chee, and volunteers take turns to drive them to their destinations, accompanied by his son Hong Yu, 19, and daughter Yi Xuan, 13.

In July, Tan and Nor Saiful spent about RM1,000 each to buy rice, oil, sugar, noodles, eggs, sardines and milk for poor families at the Sri Stulang low-cost flats here and in Plentong.

Among the recipients was Junaidah Omarang, a grandmother struggling to feed her 12 grandchildren. Her husband died several years ago and her three children lost their jobs when the pandemic struck last year.

Last month, they did the same for 40 Orang Asli families, dependent on fishing for a living, in Teluk Jawa, Permas Jaya, near here.

Their livelihoods have been badly hit by the pandemic as restaurants do not buy their catch due to a drastic drop in business.

Vincent D’Silva, who accompanied them on both the occasions, said: “The recipients were moved to tears to receive rations from Tan and Nor Saiful, saying the duo themselves need to be taken care of.

““They live in darkness but they do not wish to see the lives of others also turned to darkness,” said D’Silva, an English language lecturer and social worker.

He described them as “blind, Good Samaritans” who are determined to help the helpless overcome despair and hopelessness.

“However tough the doing of it turns out to be, both men want to ensure those around them do not have to suffer in isolation,” he said.

There is another heartwarming side to Tan’s social work: with his tiny window of vision, he enjoys photography.

Tan said he visualised the image he wished to create in his mind by using his senses of sound, touch and memory to make a photograph.

“Photography allows me to participate in the world and connect with people,” said Tan, an avid photographer from young.

Those who wish to support the inspiring Malaysians may contact Tan Chee Kiong at 016 719 0321.