JOHOR BAHRU: The real road of compassion, that is, giving, helping, assistance and community service, is a road that can be set and declared as your life’s purpose.

Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others. Hence, we need to make each new day count by helping someone or just making someone smile.

Helping others, without expecting anything in return is what true self-worth is all about.

And that’s what exactly Tang Sau Mun has been doing all these while.

He knew his calling was to help others. At the same time he knew he wanted to work with the Orang Asli which he has been doing all these 24 years.

This septuagenarian is not about to give up yet as he says, “great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.”

From the early pre-dawn he sets his task by going to the orang Asli village in Teluk Jawa. He then enquires if the people there needs help or lacking in anything.

While on his trip there, Tang carries with him bags of rice, oil, sardines, noodles, eggs and other essential household items.

“These people are basically fishermen and sometimes if there is not a good catch, then these trollers come back empty handed,” he said.
He says sometimes they don’t even have food on the table if the catch is poor.

“What more if it is on a rainy weather, then these fishermen can’t even get into sea as the seas might be rough too,” he explained.

He says most of these 40 Orang Asli families have children and they need to eat too hence whenever he visits them he brings along the food basket containing rations.

He says these families have no one to turn to. And one of the most important things you can do on this earth, he says, is to let people know they are not alone.

Tang also visits Kuala Masai and Teluk Gabong Orang Asli villages.

While there he sits with them and listen to their plight. Most of the time its food on the table that is needed.

He has forged a close bond with the Orang Asli families. And, he is like part of their family.

According to Tang, the men are usually fishermen and if it’s the monsoon season, then the catch will be bad or none at all.

And, this sometimes goes on for weeks and they even go without proper meals.

He saw the hunger and helplessness of those there, and that shook him to his core, so he decided to dedicate himself to helping them.

“When I visited Teluk Jawa one day, I almost broke down when I saw the people had not eaten for days as it was the monsoon season. I didn’t know back then that this journey of service was going to go a long way,” he recalled.

He gets into his multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and drives all the way to the Orang Asli village where he then sits, eats and chats with them listening to their stories.

“Sometimes its saddening listening to their stories as it can be heart-wrenching at times,” he revealed.

He says sometimes he gets clothes and other stuff for the Orang Asli families.

“Most of the time they wear tattered clothes and its dismaying seeing them wear those garments, hence I provide them with some new ones,” he said in tears.

At 74, he still carries on with his mission demonstrating a remarkable level of kindness for the Orang Asli all these years neither asking for any reward nor recognition.

During the pandemic, it turned out to be an issue for the Orang Asli families to get their proportions, and the majority of the stocks were getting purged. Tang realized this and immediately managed to assist the enduring families.

“Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others,” he stressed.

He said it’s vital to make each new day count by helping someone or just making someone smile, adding that, “helping others, without expecting anything in return is what true self-worth is all about.”

“No matter their skin colour, religion, or gender identity, we belong to the same race: humankind. We share the same experience. We all get hungry, feel cold, and need someone to understand us. This is basic for all humans,” he mentioned.

The only difference, he said, is you don’t have to worry about where to get your next meal. Or where to lay your head for the night.

“The Orang Asli people need help. It’s as simple as that. It doesn’t matter whether they can return the favour or not. You shouldn’t need any other reason to help someone other than the fact that they needed help,” he said.

He also visits the Kuala Masai and Teluk Gabong Orang Asli villages where he renders help too.

He is considered a beacon of hope and makes his mark on the Orang Asli community by helping many in need in their villages.

Most people his age would have long retired and began spending their retirement with their family and grandchildren.

For this doyen he never looks for a reason to help those who yearns for support. He feels that extending a helping hand not only vanishes tears off their face, but also acts as a cure for oneself.

Tang has made it his life’s mission to help those in need. The world needs more like him.