COMMENT | About 10 days ago, I received an appeal for help from a foreign student via WhatsApp. He told me he was from a neighbouring country and has been studying in Malaysia for the past two years.

He said he was stranded in his apartment and was running out of cash and food, adding that he was surviving only on bread and water.

As my mobile number is listed in my NGO blog, it is easy to contact me. This is also the purpose as I am also involved in social and voluntary work.

I didn’t think much of the student’s request, as I thought it was one of those who needed food aid to tie them over the movement control order (MCO). I took note of the city he was in – Kota Kinabalu.

After I wrote about the scourges of urban poverty here, I have received several requests for assistance, either for cash contribution or food aid...