17/04/2020 09:58 PM

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, April 17 -- A Malaysian residing in Bangkok is doing his bit to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Silva Kumar, who has been working in Bangkok for over 25 years, and his friend – Dean and owner of Foster International School in Bangkok, Vijaya Kumar – started the initiative to provide free food to the poor and the unemployed as well as medical frontliners in the capital.

bootstrap slideshow “Since the closure of the school on March 18 to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, the school would like to contribute and help those less fortunate and impacted by the pandemic. “Therefore, Vijaya and I decided to provide free food to the poor, unemployed, homeless, slum dwellers, those living hand-to-mouth, and to support frontliners in the fight against COVID-19,” he told Bernama. Silva said 30,000 baht was raised through the initiative, which started on April 6.

bootstrap slideshow “We provide simple packed pad kra pao (basil chicken stir-fry) of 30 baht each to designated areas in the city including hospitals, slums and streets. “The fund is depleting. We hope more people will join this noble cause to help those (who are) less fortunate and needy,” he said, adding that they are also working closely with NGO iCare Thailand. Silva said to date, they have distributed food to about 300 people including medical personnel.