One painful rejection
Family to appeal against unsuccessful BR1M application
WRITING is one of the few joys of life that Zulhelmy Jamaruddin, who suffers from the disorder called rickets that causes the softening of the bones, is able to do these days and it is where he pours his feelings and thoughts into.
“What I want to do most is work but I am unable to due to the disorder. The next best thing I like to do is write, which I do on my handphone,” the 38-year-old said.
Previously, he had worked in a factory and as a delivery man until 2009 when he underwent surgery for an infected wound due to a metal rod inserted into his left leg in 2002 after he fell from a bus.
“In 2010, I fell in the bathroom and broke the other leg which now has a rod in it,” he said.
His mother, Arbayah Hamidun, 64, was one of the many unsuccessful Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) applicants who will be appealing their case with the help of Selangor Gerakan Youth chief Ben Liew.
“I hope we will be able to get a laptop because typing on it will be easier,” said Zulhelmy, who is unable to properly bend his arms or legs.
Arbayah, who has lost three of her eight children, said Zulhelmy was unable to sit properly and spends his days standing on his crutches as he finds moving about difficult while simple tasks like going to the toilet required the help of others.
The only working member of the family is her adopted daughter Noor Azizah Abdullah, 23, who sells nasi lemak outside their home.
“She cannot go far as she needs to take care of Zulhelmy and me. She was abandoned as a baby on my doorstep and my family took her in. However, to this day, she is considered a permanent resident and not a citizen, which saddens me,” said Arbayah, whose husband died years ago.
Arbayah is not without problems of her own as well.
“I have to go for dialysis thrice a week and now owe the hospital RM1,300. They told me that if I amunable to settle the bill, I will not be able to continue the treatment,” she said, adding that the medication cost for both herself and her son was high.
Liew said he would be helping the family as well as many others in the Teratai constituency appeal against their unsuccessful applications.
“The three criteria a person needs to fulfil to get the aid is they have to be a citizen, have a family income of less than RM3,000 and be a senior citizen.
“In the case of Arbayah, her rejection letter states that her application did not meet the requirements but as far as we can tell, they do meet the criteria so we need to seek an answer to this,” he said.
Liew pointed out that helping the people should be a priority and the rejection letters from the Inland Revenue Board should be more detailed.
He hoped that those from the constituency with similar problems could approach him by March 15.
“Those who are due to get their BR1M vouchers under stage two and three of the programme can pick them up today and tomorrow at SMK Pandan Mewah from 10am to 5pm,” he said.
He added that successful applicants who missed the first collection round could collect their vouchers from the same location and date from 2pm onwards.
In the case of Arbayah, Liew said he would write to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to find a solution to the debt she owed the hospital while women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil would be approached for an automatic wheelchair for Zulhelmy.
“I will also work towards resolving Noor Azizah’s citizenship problem,” he added.