KAMUNTING: Having lived in a dilapidated house for more than 10 years, Puteh Abu Bakar, 82, and her family never thought they could escape their pitiful existence.
Yesterday, the octogenarian, her eldest son Abdull Halim Awang Sabu, his wife and two children got a surprise visit from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at their house in Kg Pak Dollah.
Abdull Halim was lost for words when Najib said a new house will be built for them by Yayasan Bina Upaya (YBU) under the Jom Bantu Rakyat and Ziarah Ramadan programme.
Their neighbours, Saripah Kulup Samat and her daughters Rosmah Awang Sabu and Rosnani Awang Sabri, were in tears when it was announced that YBU would allocate some money for them to complete refurbishing their shabby home.
Najib, who visited Puteh and Saripah, said help was on the way.
“Their houses look bad. We will help them,” said Najib as he walked into Puteh’s house.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir accompanied Najib.
Puteh will receive RM40,000 to build a new house while Saripah and her daughter Rosnani will get the same amount to help them complete the refurbishment.
Najib handed the approval letters to Puteh, Saripah and Rosnani and spent about 10 minutes with the families.
“This is the first time I am meeting the Prime Minister and I am very happy to see him in person.
“I only seen him on television and to see him here, I was speechless,” Puteh said, adding that she has been staying in the village for more than 20 years.
Saripah said she would use the money to repair the house roof, wall and toilet.
Saripah, a mother of three, said her second daughter Rosnani built a house next to hers but could not continue as they did not have money to continue the construction.
“We always wanted to stay together and Rosnani was upset that she could not complete it. She is now happy to get the allocation from YBU,” she said
