Gloomy Raya ahead for family
Cancer patient can’t afford celebration
KUCHING: The family of cancer patient Bujang Raba, 56, is facing a bleak Raya as they cannot afford anything for the celebration.
Bujang used to work as a construction worker and security guard. But he has been unable to work since he was diagnosed with advanced thyroid cancer last October.
His family has no source of income apart from a monthly assistance of RM300 from the Welfare Department as he is the sole breadwinner.
Bujang’s wife Saninah Morsit, 38, said she could not look for a job as she had to take care of her husband.
“I have to look after him full-time,” she said at their home in Kampung Rampangi here.
The couple have three children aged eight, 13 and 17.
The younger two are still in school while the eldest completed Form Five last year and occasionally does odd jobs to earn some money.
To make matters worse, the family lives in a rundown wooden house with rickety floors and a leaking roof.
Saninah said her husband should be in a wheelchair.
“The doctor has told him that he shouldn’t walk at all as his bones are weakened due to the cancer.
“But he can’t use the wheelchair in the house due to the uneven floor. He still has to walk down a few steps to get to the toilet,” she added.
Nevertheless, her husband remained in good spirits, she said.
Asked what her Raya wish was, Saninah grew emotional.
“We just accept the situation. If any sustenance comes to us, we will accept it gratefully,” she said, wiping away tears.
Bujang, who has a tube in his throat, had difficulty speaking.
“With Raya coming, I’m sad that my children will not be able to celebrate it as others do. We cannot afford it,” he said.
The family’s predicament was brought to the attention of a voluntary organisation called Sukarelawan Jalanan, which has been providing them with food and daily necessities.
Volunteer Suria Adenan said the group was also raising funds for Bujang’s next scheduled visit to the National Cancer Institute in Putrajaya this October.
“We’re thankful to this group of volunteers. They are the ones who care about us,” Saninah said.