Benevolent Businessman Repairs, Donates Laptops To Those In Need
Najwa (not her real name), a student at the German-Malaysian Institute here, had almost reached the point of giving up on getting a laptop.
The young woman had repeatedly applied for assistance but bureaucratic hurdles, including the requirement for supporting documents, rendered her efforts futile.
Desperately in need of a laptop for her studies, Najwa reached out for help through a short message on Instagram. She soon received a free laptop, with no questions asked and no conditions attached.
Najwa is one of the hundreds of underprivileged individuals who have received free laptops from Abu Hurairah Resources, a company here that supplies and repairs laptops.
The owner of the company is Abu Hurairah Roslan, who has faced numerous tough challenges before getting to where he is today.
Ironically, he was trained in the culinary field and had worked as a chef in London but after spending a few years abroad, he decided to return to his homeland in 2010.
“I returned to Malaysia hoping to work in the food industry, but opportunities were quite limited. I tried applying for jobs in various places but most of them never responded. So, I decided to move to Kuala Lumpur (from Rawang, Selangor, where he used to live with his family) and look for any available work,” he told Bernama.
NINE YEARS OF STRUGGLE
Fortunately, he had some knowledge of repairing laptops – a field that happened to interest him – having picked up the skills from YouTube tutorial videos.
“I offered laptop repair services. Some days, I earned RM30, on other days RM100. The highest I ever made in a day was RM300,” he recalled.
He admitted there were moments he felt like giving up but the responsibility of providing for his family kept him going.
“Whenever I felt hopeless, I would go to the mosque early before prayer time… it was one of the ways I calmed myself and gathered strength,” he added.
For nine years, he struggled with uncertainty about his future. As 2019 drew to a close, Abu Hurairah found himself at a crossroads: whether to continue repairing laptops or venture into a new business. Then, he received an unexpected piece of good news.
“My former employer, a Pakistani national who owned a laptop shop at Imbi Plaza (in Kuala Lumpur), decided to return to his home country and wanted to hand over his business to me.
“He told me he wanted me to continue this business because he trusted me and saw how sincere and dedicated I was in my work,” he said.
A few months after taking over the business, COVID-19 struck the world, and suddenly, the demand for laptops and repair services skyrocketed.
“I used to think Malaysians weren’t very interested in computers but after movement restrictions were imposed (following the COVID-19 pandemic), many realised the necessity of having laptops for (remote) learning and work purposes,” he said.
The situation then also opened Abu Hurairah’s eyes to the reality that many people could not afford a computer.
MISSION
Rebranding his business and making community assistance one of the core missions of the company, he set out to repair some 100 disused and abandoned laptops stored in his shop. The restored devices were later donated to students and individuals who could not afford to buy a laptop.
For Abu Hurairah, giving away free laptops is not just about handing over a device – it is about changing the future of those in need.
“Each donated laptop comes with a warranty of up to three years. If it breaks down, the recipient can take it to any computer shop, and our company will cover the repair costs,” said the father of five, adding the process of applying for a free laptop from his shop is simple as he does not conduct overly strict background checks.
His noble efforts, however, have faced criticisms from certain quarters who accuse him of seeking personal gain from the initiative.
“People don’t see what happens behind the scenes. Some days, I have to take money out of my own pocket, work overtime and make other sacrifices just to ensure that the laptops we donate are in perfect working condition,” he said, adding that such accusations do not affect him.
Abu Hurairah also admitted that initially he was worried his initiative might hurt the company’s finances, but “I believe that when we help others, God helps us in return… my shop is still standing and even growing”.
Today, he not only runs a stable business but also has a dedicated team. In addition to hiring Malaysians as workers, he provides information technology (IT) students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience at his shop.
Since launching his laptop donation initiative in 2020, Abu Hurairah has spent more than RM200,000 on laptop repairs, benefiting over 500 recipients all over the country.
His company has also caught the attention of various organisations, including Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated and IT companies like ASUS.
GIVING HOPE, CHANGING LIVES
Sharing the stories of those who had received free laptops from him, Abu Hurairah said he often receives messages from them expressing their gratitude.
“Some of them even cried because they were able to own a laptop for the first time in their lives,” he said.
One of the most touching stories was about a university student who was on the verge of dropping out because he could not afford a laptop. After receiving one from Abu Hurairah, the student completed his studies successfully and is now working as an engineer at a multinational company.
“When I hear stories like this, I know my efforts are not in vain. I may not be rich in money but I am rich in the blessings that come from helping those in need.
“This is not just a business I’m running… it is a legacy of charity. I want my company to be known not for its profits but for what we contribute to society,” he added.
