Mak Wan, the ex-drug addict helping the homeless in KL

70-year-old Wan Qamariah, also known as Mak Wan, was once a drug addict living rough on the streets of Kuala Lumpur and going in and out of prison. Today, though, she is something of a heroine in Jalan Chow Kit, where she spends much of her time helping the poor and homeless in the capital city.

In 2020, she and several of her friends who used to live rough together set up Warung Makan Sahabat, an initiative now in collaboration with Yayasan Amal Malaysia to provide free food for those who are down on their luck.

The cooking is done by Nariah Che Hassan or Mak Na, who handles the menu at Warung Makan Sahabat.

The Warung Makan Sahabat community centre is often frequented by university students who come to perform community service.

Mohd Khairul Azman, general manager of Yayasan Amal Malaysia, speaks to the poor and homeless who come to Warung Makan Sahabat.

His talks, delivered before the food is served, are part of the Yayasan Amal Malaysia programme.

Those who come for the food are also given the opportunity to pray before eating.

Warung Makan Sahabat gives the poor, homeless, and drug addicts a place to sit and socialise while they eat.

Food packets are distributed by the university students as part of their community service.

Yayasan Amal Malaysia also provides religious classes for converts.

Ustaz Syafiq Liow explains something in Mandarin to those who attend these classes.

Chinese characters are also used to make these classes easier for converts.

A man listens as Syafiq Liow speaks.

Mak Wan meanwhile is making kuih in the kitchen. She keeps herself busy as a way to avoid falling back into her old drug habits, and to earn some extra money on the side.

Everything is planned out in a neat schedule. Mak Wan makes about 200 pieces of kuih each day.

Today, she is wrapping a traditional Kelantanese kuih known as lepat ubi.

After that, she makes another speciality – tom yam-flavoured curry puffs.

Mak Wan delivers her kuih to nearby stores on foot.

She carefully arranges her kuih in the waiting containers.

Mak Wan takes a scooter to deliver kuih to the shops that cannot be reached on foot.

A handful of homeless people in the city centre – a group that are close to Mak Wan's heart.

Not all of them are drug addicts. Some are living rough due to discrimination or simply bad luck.

Each has their own story of how they wound up on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Mak Wan and her companion, Cikgu Jinggo, invite a woman to visit Warung Makan Sahabat.

Mak Wan sits on the ground next to a homeless man as he eats his lunch.