By Zaki Salleh
IPOH: Driven by a genuine desire to help those in need, Kamalam Panikar has dedicated herself to volunteer work for the past 22 years.
At 63, Kamalam could choose to relax at home, spending time with family or pursuing personal interests.
However, the retired nurse prefers to engage in activities that benefit society as a social activist.
Kamalam served as a nurse for 30 years
According to Kamalam, her journey began with the establishment of a center dedicated to volunteer work aimed at assisting the community.
“I founded the first Sathya Sai Baba Center in Sungai Siput in 2001.
“Every week, we conduct moral education classes in Tamil schools around Sungai Siput.
“The goal is to instill good behavior, respect for parents, and to foster responsible citizens.
“Starting with a small group, our membership has gradually increased. We carry out many community activities to assist those in need,” she explains.
Currently, four schools are involved in the program: Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Mahatma Gandhi Kalasalai, SJKT Changkat Salak, SK Methodist, and SJKT Heawood.
Additionally, she helps students from low-income families, such as purchasing school uniforms.
Kamalam says their latest initiative involved a special event to celebrate students who achieved excellent results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams.
“We honor them and provide gifts as recognition and encouragement for their continued success in the future,” she adds.
