A recycling factory worker in Malaysia was unexpectedly helped after he was asked a simple question about missing food offerings, which revealed that he had been facing difficulties in his life. The incident started when a woman working at the factory noticed that food that was left at the altar of the Datuk Gong was gone from the outside of the factory premises.
The woman reports that she had to purchase nasi lemak, kopi o, and fruit regularly, about two to three times a week, and presented them at the altar as offerings. When it was time to return the following day, however, she was curious as to what had become of the food. At first, she believed the cleaning staff were removing the items. After checking with the cleaner, she learned that nobody had touched the food, leaving the mystery unsolved for nearly two weeks.
Mystery Behind Missing Offerings
The situation became clear one afternoon when a client visited the factory. The woman went outside to greet the visitor when she saw a foreign worker eating some leftover nasi lemak from the altar. She also observed that some ash from the incense was falling on the food while he was eating.
She didn’t get angry, but she was concerned about his health because the food had been out in the heat for a whole day. On the next day she discussed with the worker what she had witnessed.
Worker Explains His Situation
The worker immediately apologized and promised not to repeat it. He said that he was familiar with the fact that the food was meant to be offered as a religious tribute. He had thought, though, that it was ok the following day, as “Tuhan had already eaten first.”
The worker in this conversation got emotional and started talking about his personal life. He has disclosed that his wife in his country of origin was undergoing cancer treatment and that he was looking after three children. He worked many hours but paid out a lot of money and sent nearly all of it home to help his family.
As a result, he was left with only RM30 (about S$9) each month for his own daily expenses. The woman said she was shocked when she heard the amount. She asked him if that was all he had, and he nodded but started crying.
Colleagues Step Forward
The woman told the factory owner about his condition. The employer promptly summoned the worker to the office and offered the worker financial aid in the amount of RM500 (approximately S$151). He also encouraged the worker to take care of himself and not go hungry.
Later, a number of colleagues gave him some extra money. Initially a problem of lost altar offerings, it eventually drew attention to the problems of the worker and the support of those around him.
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