BANGI: Actor Fizo Omar is aiming to inspire kindness in everyday life by feeding the poor and needy through suspended meals.
A suspended meal is a meal which people pay for in advance, to be provided to those who need it, no matter why.
Fizo, 36, whose full name is Wan Hafizol Wan Omar, is giving away the meals from his Thai restaurant Fizo Mawar in Bandar Baru Bangi.
The first batch of 100 food boxes, which consist of rice with daging masak merah and milk tea, were handed out to university students in the area this evening.
“We managed to raise more than RM1,000 in five days through crowd funding which paid for the food,” said Fizo, who reached out to his millions of fans on the social media for support.
The actor, who is known for Kongsi (2011), Halim Munan (2012) and Sembunyi: Amukan Azazil (2013), said he can relate to the hardship of the students.
“I struggled to pay for food during my campus days in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
“I want to help other low-income students who are struggling to keep pace with the cost of living.
“Food accounts for much of their expenses in pursuing a higher education,” said the civil engineering graduate.
The suspended meal programme, called Sajian Negaraku, is part of the ‘Negaraku' initiative which is the brainchild of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Negaraku was conceived earlier this year as a nationwide platform for Malaysians to express their love for the country, and to stand united in achieving the goal of developing Malaysia into a more prosperous and successful country.
Fizo had to fork out his own money to prepare the food as it cost more than RM10 per pax, but he doesn't mind.
He hope that his self sacrifice will encourage others, especially restaurant operators, to do the same so that it will not be limited to Bangi area.
"There are so many people out there with food insecurity, especially the urban poor, who can really benefit from suspended meals,” he said.
University student Mohd Daniel Husin, 22, was among the beneficiaries.
For Daniel, who is eldest of three siblings, the food is more than just a hearty meal.
"It gives me comfort and a sense of belonging through the kindness of strangers,” said Daniel, who relies on eating instant noodles to help make ends meet.
The RM700 a month he gets from his scholarship is insufficient to cover his cost of living.
He works part time as a waiter, clocking in more than 30 hours a week to earn an extra RM1,000 a month and still he is hungry.
"When I’m hungry, it's more difficult for me to concentrate in class,” said the undergraduate from Kolej Poly-Tech MARA (KPTM).