Hut family moves into proper shelter

4x4 Relief Malaysia helps build container home with toilet and bathroom

KLANG: Two months ago K. Sinasamy, 63, his wife S. Kumaraswary, 41, and their son Saravanan, 22, lived in a ramshackle old hut, which looked as if it were about to come crashing down.

The nearby bushes were their “toilet” and their bathroom was in the open air where they used rainwater to bathe and do their washing.

Today, they have a new container home.

“We are truly thankful and are overwhelmed with the generosity shown by those who have come forward to help us,” said Sinasamy.

The container home, complete with a toilet and bathroom, was built by 4x4 Relief Malaysia – a group of fourwheel drive enthusiasts.

“We now have a comfortable home as well as proper amenities. This is something we never expected to have,” said Sinasamy.

The family’s sole income comes from catching wild mud crabs in the nearby swamps and they have to go hungry for many days in a month when there is a poor catch.

Luckily for the almostdestitute family, their sad plight came to the attention of NGO Community Development and Integration Initiative (CDII) after it was highlighted in The Star.

This prompted 4x4 Relief Malaysia and several others to come forward to help Sinasamy and his family.

CDII director Firoza Burhan said more help was on the way for them.

“A foundation is looking into buying Sinasamy a boat so that he can earn a living from fishing.”

She said a retired senior police officer had also contributed RM1,000, which was used to open a bank account for Kumaraswary.

She said CDII had collected about RM4,000, which would be used to purchase basic furniture and also arrange for Saravanan to go for driving classes to get a driving licence as well as a motorbike licence.

Firoza said the plan was for CDII to look out for the family for a year after which they would have to fully fend for themselves.

She said CDII was also hoping that members of the public would once again help the family out.

“We need funds to buy Sinasamy a 50hp engine for the boat that he will be getting,” said Firoza.

Firoza said this method was in line with the CDII slogan, “Changing Lives”.

Those who want to help the family can email cdii.community@gmail.com.

Truly thankful: Sinasamy, Kumaraswary and Saravanan cooking dinner outside their hut before sunset at Kampung Rantau Panjang in Klang before getting their new container home (left).