A year on without Raymond Koh, wife stays focused on helping the poor

12th Feb 2018

This has given her something to focus on as she awaits answers and continues to hope that Koh, who was abducted in broad daylight on February 13 last year, will be found.

Liew said she started making jewellery as a hobby three years ago, and realised that she could turn it into a business to help single mothers and other women in need of extra income.

The 61-year-old mother of three adult children started selling her jewellery at a shopping mall in June last year, and has managed to secure a new pop-up stall at Starling Mall in Damansara Uptown, which will open after the Chinese New Year.

“I started selling jewellery at Desa Park City Mall last year.

“This year, I managed to get a place at Starling Mall. We will open shop again from February 23 to 25,” she told The Malaysian Insight this afternoon at Starling Mall.

To keep costs low, Liew will run the pop-up stall only twice a month, on dates set by the mall, instead of renting a permanent stall.

“Whatever money that I make, a percentage will go to Harapan Komuniti for the single mothers’ programme. Besides the jewellery classes, I also employ single mothers who need work to help at the stall.”

Harapan Komuniti is the welfare organisation started by her husband in 2004 to help the marginalised and single mothers.

It has a reading and learning centre for disadvantaged children, and runs various programmes.

Since Koh’s abduction, Liew has been supported by a trust fund set up by the family’s lawyers.

Lawyer Kenny Ng has said the trust fund will also help support Harapan Komuniti’s work.

Liew said the pop-up stall was managed mostly by her 32-year-old daughter, Esther, who also helped teach in the jewellery-making classes for single mothers.

“I started jewellery-making classes for a few ladies at Harapan Komuniti two years ago.

“I taught them how to make simple items, like bracelets and earrings, while I do the more difficult ones, like necklaces with semi-precious stones,” she said, adding that she learnt the skill from a South Korean friend.

https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/37593/