Founded at the turn of the 20th century, Sau Seng Lum started off as a humble Buddhist temple along Jalan Peel in Kuala Lumpur, providing aid to the overseas Chinese community fleeing to then Malaya from war-torn China.

Since then, it has evolved into a full-fledged non-profit organisation, catering to people in need from all walks of life. Aside from Buddhist temples in KL and PJ, it is especially known for its dialysis and stroke rehabilitation centres, which provide subsidised treatments to patients who are unable to afford the costly medical fees in private hospitals.

Now, the non-profit is entering a new chapter with the official opening of the Sau Seng Lum International School (Special Education) in Bandar Rimbayu, Telok Panglima Garang.

The school was a long time in the making: the groundbreaking was back in 2016, and the building was done in stages over the next decade, before finally being completed at the end of 2024. The fam and I were here for a charity bazaar to raise funds for the school’s operations, and since it’s not too far from where we live, decided to drop by to show our support!

The school is massive, with the building spanning four floors and there is a large compound too. It is open to special needs children aged 7 to 14. The curriculum follows the national KSSR syllabus for Pendidikan Khas (Special Needs), and also includes additional programmes such as Robotics, Arts and Crafts, a Skill-based Physical Activity Programme, a Pre-Vocational Programme, and more. The goal is to provide special needs children with the education and living skills they need in order to be independent and self-reliant.

For the charity bazaar, aside from food trucks and stalls, there were also game booths, stalls selling merchandise and souvenirs, as well as donation drives.

Food trucks / stalls setup inside the school compound. Since Sau Seng Lum is a Buddhist organisation, all of the stalls sold vegetarian food.

To purchase our food and drinks, we bought these coupons from the counter for RM10 per booklet, and tore off strips based on the corresponding value.

There was a stinky tofu food truck at the corner of the parking lot called Chew Chew Chow Tau Foo – I’m guessing they parked away from the main thoroughfare because the smell was so pungent. A basic serving of four, slathered with sweet chilli sauce, cost RM5. The truck also operates around Puchong on regular days.

It’s true what they say about taste buds changing as you age. I used to hate the smell of stinky tofu, but as I grew older, I developed a taste for that pungent, almost blue cheese-esque funk that comes from the tofu being soaked in a brine of vegetable and meat juices. In the old days, this process would take months, but modern stinky tofu is usually only marinated for a day or two to give it that ‘flavour’, rather than being truly fermented.

We ventured into the building after our snack. One section of the hall displayed newspaper clippings and photographs relating the history of Sau Seng Lum’s work with special needs children, and how the building came to be.

There were prayers going on in the main hall. Was impressed with the space: it was cavernous and the marble floors had been polished to a high shine.

A section of the hall was dedicated to the Medicine Buddha (Bhaisajyaguru), who is often depicted with blue skin. One of the three major Buddhas, he is known for his 12 great vows to benefit beings, chief among them relieving suffering from illness and poor health. The table in front of the Buddha’s imagery was laden with fresh fruit offerings, as well as other donated goods like rice and soft drinks, which will be redistributed to the needy.

There were more food and beverage stalls on the second floor, with a plethora of options, from vegetarian bak kut teh to fried noodles, nasi lemak, ‘chicken’ rice, desserts, and much more. Tables and chairs were set up in what I assume are classrooms, so that diners could enjoy the food. The fam and I hadn’t had lunch, so we ordered some rice dishes to fill ourselves up. For a charity bazaar, the prices were still surprisingly reasonable.

Meanwhile, the large event halls upstairs had been turned into a mini carnival of sorts, with various games like shooting balls, fishing for rubber duckies, and such. There was also a haircut station, with professional hairstylists doing their part for charity.

Assorted items for sale.

Now that the school is open and operational, I’m sure it will provide much needed financial relief for parents with special needs children who want quality education and training for their children. For more information, visit https://www.sausenglum.com.my/programme-information/.

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