This Ipoh barber is giving back, one haircut at a time

IPOH: Barber M Selvaraj, who has been in the trade for 15 years, is giving back to society with his free haircut initiative. Selvaraj's "Free For All" programme, held at his barbershop on Persiaran Bijih Timah, aims to distribute 100 complimentary haircuts to people from various backgrounds, including the homeless, from 9am to 4pm.

The barbershop, which serves Malay, Chinese and Indian customers, provides a space for togetherness as people chat and enjoy each other's company while Selvaraj cuts their hair. Selvaraj's passion for barbering runs in his family, with his grandfather starting the business 50 years ago and his uncle passing it down to him. After completing his SPM, Selvaraj learned the skill from his uncle and made it his livelihood.

His recent work with the non-governmental organisation Bantu Saja further highlighted the impact his trade could have on people experiencing homelessness. Selvaraj's empathy for those in need stems from his childhood, where he saw his mother raise six children alone after his father's death. He believes that using one's skills and sharing resources is a meaningful way to help others, even if it doesn't involve a large sum of money.

Selvaraj hopes more Malaysians will follow his example and contribute to their communities in any way they can.