KUALA LUMPUR: Tears welled up in Tan Eng Huat's eyes as he remembers life with his estranged family on this Chinese New Year.
"I miss my brother and sister so much but they have their own families and their own New Year celebrations.
"I don't want to disturb them," said the 60-year-old parking attendant who has been staying at the Homeless Transit Centre (Pusat Transit Gelandangan) near Bulatan Pahang, here, for the past nine months.
Being "without a family" for over eight years, Tan said he was used to spending Chinese New Year all by himself.
Originally from Malacca, Tan came to Kuala Lumpur in March and slept on the sidewalks of Kotaraya shopping complex before he met the Kechara volunteers who told him to go to the transit centre.
Despite being lonely, at the centre Tan said he prefers to keep to himself and not get too close to other residents.
At the centre, the homeless are only allowed to stay for two months while they look for jobs and places to stay.
Tan was an exception as he had a job and also because of his age.
"I work from as early as 7am until midnight everyday. I don't take any off days.
"Although the centre provides meals, I like to buy myself some treats, get my own cigarettes and also have some savings." he said.
After speaking to reporters, Tan got up to return to his 'workplace' across the street.
He only took an hour off to enjoy a Chinese New Year meal from Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur's Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant, organised by the Onn Ja'afar Institute (IOJ), a non-governmental organisation.
Underprivileged children from Yayasan Chow Kit's KL Krash Krash Pad also joined the homeless there for the celebration. They were served by 50 of IOJ's student-volunteers.
Another homeless man, Yong Yeng Hoi, 45, had been staying at the centre for almost two months while he waited for a job as a security guard.
He had not celebrated Chinese New Year with his three elder siblings for three years now, although they all live in the city.
"Of course I miss them but I cannot just go and see them, they are angry at me," the former cook said, without elaborating what had led to the family feud.
"But it's okay, I feel happy today because I get to enjoy a good meal with my friends here. We try to cheer each other up." he added.
The Chinese New Year do was IOJ's third festive celebration at the centre, with the previous ones being during Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Deepavali.
IOJ chief executive officer Charles Mohan said the venue was chosen as it was a one-stop centre for the homeless to receive assistance from the government, NGOs and members of the public.
"We are thankful to the volunteers who had given their time, energy and resources to give hope to our fellow Malaysians who have so little of their own," he said.
Also present was Parkroyal Marketing Communications manager Warren Fernandez.
"This is the second time Parkroyal has joined forces with IOJ to bring joy to the less fortunate.
"Providing food here today is a way for us to reaffirm our commitment to the spirit of giving." he said.