KUCHING: The plight of a destitute couple living in Kampung Lintang by the Kuching-Serian Road has been brought to the attention of Habitat for Indigenous and Urban Programme (also called Hidup).
Hidup president, George Young Si Ricord Jr, said after being told about the matter, he and his team immediately went to verify it.
He said upon reaching the village they were appalled by the deplorable condition under which Lontot Leman, 74, and his 78-year-old wife, Maidah Abdullah, were living.
They have been living in a dilapidated house for years without running water and electricity.
“They collect rain water for drinking, cooking and washing, and uses a kerosene lamp for lighting,” said George.
Lontot receives a monthly welfare allowance of RM300 from the Welfare Department whereas Maidah is not eligible for the handout which is for one person only per family.
George said he was told by the couple that their house frequently got flooded especially during the rainy season from December till February.
“During a flood they would move to the village’s mosque. This happens every year to the whole village,” he said.
As for the couple’s 45-year-old adopted son, Zamri Lontot, he is self-employed and has three school-going children.
Zamri said they had been trying to apply for a house under the government’s ‘Program Perumahan Rakyat Termiskin (PPRT)’, but was not successful even with endorsement by the village headman.
When he heard about Hidup, he decided to try his luck and told George about his parents’ predicament.
On his part, George said he would write to Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak seeking assistance for the couple.
“Hopefully Baitulmal would build a house for them as they are incapable of doing it themselves,” he said.
George reiterated that Hidup would continuously identify vulnerable people regardless of ethnicity and religion as poverty is multi-dimensional.
For further information, the public can contact Hidup on 0111 8580528/0111 8990528.
