Senior citizen won’t move out of ramshackle home
IPOH: For 15 years, senior citizen M. Ramayee has been living alone in a dilapidated house at the edge of a jungle in Kampung Hock Aun.
She is adamant that she is staying put although circumstances will soon force her to move out.
With no electricity or piped water, the 62-year-old gathers branches for firewood and fetches water from a nearby well.
Nonetheless, she says she is happy with her living conditions.
“I am used to this. I like it here. I am not working and I can’t afford to pay rent,” she said at her house.
“I am afraid that I’ll be chased out ... where can I stay then?” she asked.
Ramayee, who said she has no next of kin, used to stay a short distance from her current home.
“That house collapsed. I found this vacant one and moved in. I didn’t seek help because I am all right on my own.
“I just hope people can help repair the house. I don’t want to move,” she said.
She may not have a choice because the area she is living in has been earmarked for redevelopment.
Kampung Hock Aun village chief P. Thamoran said he has tried to convince her to move out.
“But she insists on staying put because she has no other kin. The villagers help out by buying her food regularly,” he said.
“I have tried bringing her to gatherings but she doesn’t like mixing with people,” he added.
Thamoran said there are several houses in the area where Ramayee lives but most of the occupants have moved out.
“There are a lot of mosquitoes and it is a flood-prone area. I’ve also seen snakes slithering around too,” he said.
Yayasan Bina Upaya (YBU) senior officer S. Mokan visited Ramayee about a week ago after learning of her situation.
“It’s shocking to see her living like this, with no utilities.
“I gave her a box of food that will hopefully last her a month,” he said, adding that he will try to help her get welfare aid.
“I’ve her checked her background. She is a registered voter and is receiving BR1M,” he said.
However, it will be difficult for YBU to fix up her house.
“Firstly, the land and the house are not hers. Secondly, she is not married and has no family.
“There are families in more urgent need of our help,” he said.
“I will try to convince her to move into a government welfare home where most of her needs will be taken care of and she can live comfortably,” he said.