JOHOR BARU: “This is the first time I am breaking my fast in a fancy hotel like this. I never had an opportunity to enjoy a Ramadan buffet until now.”
These were the words of Amal Rashad Nor Arif, a Year Two pupil from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas (SKPK) Princess Elizabeth, Johor Baru, who is partially blind.
The eight-year-old was overjoyed for being invited with his schoolmates to break their fast at the New York Hotel, here recently.
“The food is delicious and I want to thank New York Hotel staff for giving me the opportunity to have our buka puasa here,” said the friendly Amal Rashad, who hails from Kelantan.
His schoolmate Nuraida M. Ramlee, 12, said she loved the cosy atmosphere of the hotel.
“Even though I can’t see but I can feel the atmosphere as something very different for me," said Nuraida who has been blind since birth.
She loved the food and thanked the hotel management for their thoughtful gesture towards blind pupils like herself.
Embracing the spirit of compassion and generosity and making sure the visually impaired are not sidelined during Ramadan, New York Hotel treated 35 children from the school.
The pupils, aged seven to 15, were mostly orphans and children from under-privileged families. It was their very first time at the hotel.
The children enjoyed themselves as they tucked into delicious local and western delicacies including appetizers and soups presented in a mouth-watering and colourful palette.
In her welcoming speech, New York Hotel general manager Tan Ai Lee said she believed in the spirit of sharing and caring especially with her young guests during the auspicious month of Ramadan.
Hosting the Ramadan buffet was just one of the ways of sharing this wonderful season with them.
“While most children in Malaysia celebrate the holy month with their family and friends, let us remember and help the underprivileged children, who may not have the opportunity to enjoy the blessings of Ramadan with their loved ones.
Tan said the buka puasa treat is part of the hotel’s continuous effort to give back to the community.
Meanwhile, SKPK Princess Elizabeth senior assistant principal for administration, Azmi Othman said it was wonderful to see the children beaming from ear to ear as they enjoyed the delicious buka puasa spread.
“The children here come from poor families and some of them are orphans. They hardly get the opportunity to experience a memorable moment during Ramadan.”
Before leaving the hotel, the children received duit raya, from Yayasan Kebajikan Suria Johor Baru, a charitable body and an non-governmental organisation.