Elderly widow living in shack gets new house
KOTA KINABALU: Ranau people's representatives and the Lembah Permai folks helped build a home for a female senior citizen in Kundasang.
Recently, the story of a widow who lived in a house made of leaves and branches in Kundasang went viral on social media.
Deputy Chief Minister and Kundasang assemblyman Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Ranau member of Parliament took the initiative to build a home for 62year-old widow, Gorimeh Gumat, through gotong royong with the Lembah Permai villagers in
Kundasang.
Dr Joachim, who is also Industrial Development Minister, lauded the non-governmental organizations who participated in the initiative.
He emphasized the state government will always protect the needy people, poor to hardcore poor groups, with the help of the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) in Sabah.
"JPKK needs to identify every villager in their respective areas so that those who need help will get the appropriate assistance," he said, adding he would take the necessary follow-up action with JPKK and the village head should such matters arise within his constituency.
PBS Kundasang Branch Youth head Azmi Arimin also presented a cash donation collected by the party's youth members to JPKK Kg Desa Aman chairman Jaifuddin Madani.
"Now, this mother (widow) has a house and I thank you for the cooperation of all parties to realize the aspiration and dream of this mother to get a house, protected from heat and rain," said Dr Joachim.