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

IPOH: Barber M Selvaraj, who has been practicing for 15 years, has dedicated his trade to helping those in need. His "Free For All" programme, held at his barbershop on Persiaran Bijih Timah, offered 100 free haircuts to people from various ethnic backgrounds, including Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Selvaraj explained that his barbershop serves as a gathering place where individuals from different communities bond over shared conversation while he trims their hair.

The initiative also provided each visitor with a Jalur Gemilang flag, free food, and beverages. Selvaraj's passion for barbering runs in his family, with his grandfather opening the first shop 50 years ago, which was later passed down to him. After completing his SPM, he learned from his uncle and made a career out of it. His involvement with the NGO Bantu Saja further inspired him to use his skills to assist homeless individuals in Buntong and Silibin.

Selvaraj's motivation stems from witnessing the struggles of homeless people, many of whom have long hair and also face food insecurity. He extended his free haircut offer to customers who couldn't afford it, receiving praise for his empathy, which is rooted in his childhood experience of his mother raising six children alone after his father's death.

Selvaraj views National Month not just as a time for patriotic displays but as an opportunity to give back, emphasizing that helping others does not require much and that using one's skills and resources to aid the community is essential.