The mother and son who went missing from a hotel on Jalan Imbi on July 23 have been found by the same good Samaritan who booked them into the hotel after taking pity on them.

The 61-year-old mother known as Madam Mah and her 23-year-old son, only identified as Wong, were known to have been "squatting" at a McDonald's outlet at the CurveNX mall in Mutiara Damansara for more than a year.

When Kechara Soup Kitchen Society (Kechara) project director Justin Cheah was informed of their plight, he placed them at the Imbi Road hotel for the night after learning that they were jobless and living in the streets.

Cheah also provided for their immediate needs, such as toiletries and new sets of clothing, courtesy of Kechara. However, on the same day of being booked into the hotel, the duo quietly left and went missing for days.

Second encounter

Cheah went looking for them in the city, including in Kepong and in Selayang, based on postings on his Facebook by netizens.

Cheah was finally able to spot the missing duo on July 27, after a Facebook tip off, informing that the Mah and Wong were seen at the same McDonald's outlet where he first met them.

"This time, I decided to approach them differently," Cheah said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

"Perhaps they did not trust me fully when I first approached them and placed them in the hotel, or maybe they were not comfortable with the attention I gave them.

"So, instead of approaching them this time, I hid and observed their interactions with each other. I only spoke with them the next day," Cheah explained.

The following day, Cheah returned to Mutiara Damansara and found the two of them, this time in a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. They were both sleeping with their heads resting on a table. 

"I approached the boy when his mother got up and left somewhere, maybe to the bathroom. I reintroduced myself in a cheerful manner, and asked how he was doing," he said.

It turned out Mah and Wong left the hotel because it was not a comfortable place for them. According to Wong, the whole Imbi area was boring.

"Ever since then, they would just roam about in Kepong or Mutiara Damansara, taking a bus, and sleeping in restaurants at night," Cheah said. 

When Mah returned, Cheah asked them both, where they wanted to stay, saying he wanted to help them.

When he asked them if they wanted a room in Kepong, Wong immediately nodded, prompting his mother to give in.

"After I checked them into a hotel room, I jokingly told Mah, 'Don't run away again, if not, I will be very sad'. Hearing this, Mah giggled," Cheah said.

Apartment accommodation

The next day, Cheah checked them out and found them an apartment room nearby. He also opened a bank account for them and arranged for Wong to have a mobile phone.

"Maybe, later, I will recommend to the mother to let Wong take up coding classes. He seems to be very good with numbers, he has memorised my phone number after I told him just two times," he said.

Cheah has been with Kechara for almost 11 years now. He first joined as a volunteer, and now heads its soup kitchen division.

"There's an issue we face with regard to homeless people. Malaysians are quick to equate homelessness with beggars, but this is hardly the case.

"These are perfectly able people who have faced a lot in life. Some come from broken families, some are orphans," Cheah added. 

Donations can be made to Kechara Soup Kitchen to support Madam Mah and Wong (Maybank a/c: 512231-334874).

Copies of the transaction slip, with the name and mailing address of the donor to be included for the tax emption receipt to be issued, should be sent emailed to ksk@kechara.com after making the donation.