In the name of good will and compassion for his fellow Malaysians, food truck owner Mohd Kosim Ismail is giving out free burgers to anyone who needs them during Malaysia's recently reimposed Movement Control Order (MCO).
Lockdowns can be really tough on people, some more than others. Small business owners, as well as those who have been furloughed by their jobs, know this more than anyone else.
And the struggle becomes even more apparent when faced with putting food on the table with money that simply doesn't exist.
Kosim (30), who runs the 'Burger Boy' food truck, has pledged to give out free burgers to anyone in need.
"The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has struck people differently. Some lost their jobs and are unemployed, while some were not affected at all. Hence, this is the least that I can do to help those who are affected," Kosim told New Straits Times.
He urged those in need of a bite to put aside any reservations or shyness. As long as they're truly in need, they're more than welcome to get a free burger at his food truck, located in the Kota Damansara township of Selangor, Malaysia.
Since the reinstatement of the MCO on January 13, 2021, Kosim has given out between 50 and 100 free burgers daily.
"They can order whatever they want from the menu," Kosim reassured.
Tak ada duit nk mkn burger time pkp ni.. Jgan malu jgan segan mari kedai saya Burger Boy Makan la sampai kenyang.. Anda...
Posted by Burger Boy on ;Tuesday, 12 January 2021
A few days after he announced his free burger initiative on Facebook, countless people in need have flocked to his food truck. On January 15, 2021, Kosim said he even managed to distribute 150 free burgers.
Living in a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia, Kosim exclaimed that all his 'special customers' came from various ethnicities, implying that COVID-19's lockdown struggles affect everyone.
And with more than 90 burger varieties available, there's literally something for everybody. For people who aren't necessarily in need but would like to try out what Burger Boy has to offer, prices range between US$0.74 (RM3) and US$7.41 (RM30).
People who are 'better off' also visit his food truck to chip in and pay it forward.
"They come to my food truck and 'pay it forward' for those who cannot afford and are hungry," Kosim says.
And some people even call-in and ask him to deliver to various places of their choice. All they need to do is bank-in their money to his account and provide a delivery address for Kosim to send the burgers to.
Kosim plans to continue giving out free burgers until the end of Malaysia's MCO, which is currently slated to end on January 26, 2021. However, with COVID-19 cases continuing to surge, we can expect an extension of the MCO.
Having been selling burgers for nearly 14 years, Kosim is a firm believer in performing good deeds.
The 30-year-old Kelantan native earns between US$370 (RM1,500) and US$494 (RM2,000) daily from burger sales. He credits his father for instilling the need to perform good deeds in order to live a decent life.
"My dad told me that the more we give, the more we will get in return. The returns are not necessarily in terms of money but it could also be good health, sufficient sustenance, and happiness, among others."
Free burgers are distributed between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day. You can find the Burger Boy food truck at the following address:
Jalan PJU 5/3
Kota Damansara
47810
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Malaysia
You can also call them at +60179310592. Alternatively, you can check out their official Facebook page.
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Cover image sourced from Burger Boy / Facebook.
