They earned the gratitude of neighbours when they decided to distribute their home-cooked “cakoi” (fried breadstick) to flood victims around Dengkil.
Their act of kindness had also encouraged others to donate whatever they could, including money, to help those in need.
Munzir, 41, said they decided to donate the popular Chinese snack, which they had been selling for a long time, because they felt sorry for the victims who had gone through difficult times.
“Previously, I would help others with the cleaning up. Now, I help to cook because I know how difficult it is to get food during the floods,” he said.
Besides the flood relief centres, Munzir said food aid should be sent to victims at their homes because most of them would return to their houses to inspect the devastation after the floods and see whether they could clean up.
“Those who return to clean up the mess will be too busy to think about food or they may have difficulty getting food because they have no transport.
“As such, I am determined to do my bit for the community in this way. At least this will allay their hunger and lift their spirits,” he said.
Munzir did not expect his simple act of kindness to attract so much publicity on social media.
“Many have been messaging me to ask how they can donate. Most of the donations received were from our regular customers and the farmers’ market traders. We’ve managed to raise about RM1,000,” he said.
With the money, the couple decided to buy drinking water, dry food and disposable diapers, apart from the ingredients necessary to prepare more “cakoi”, to help more flood victims.
“In some of the areas that we visited, the victims requested for hot meals for lunch.
“The Orang Asli community, living behind the Jenderam Murni religious school, have also not received any aid and desperately need disposal diapers and drinking water.
“We’ve helped as much as possible with the donations received,” he said.
Munzir said the floods since Dec 18, also destroyed his food stall, Cakoi Krabi, which the couple had been operating since 2003 at Taman Desa, Jenderam Hilir.
All their cooking utensils were damaged in the floodwaters.
When the water did not recede fast enough, the couple continued to make “cakoi” in a makeshift kitchen at the front portion of their house.
“The ‘cakoi’ packs are distributed house to house in the evenings,” said his wife, Nurul Farah Hamizah.
“Each pack has 12 pieces of various flavours, namely baby cakoi, red bean pau, cakoi cheese, oreo and cakoi panjang.
“We prepare 100 packs daily. This is enough for about 70 families,” she added.