Married couple living in car because of COVID-19

KAMPAR: A husband and wife who lost their job because of the COVID-19 pandemic have been sleeping in their car for a week now.

Childless couple, J. Rajakumari and husband, P. Sivagamyselvan, both aged 45, said they worked as car wash attendants for eight years in Johor Bahru before they were forced to return to her kampung in July.

However, Rajakumari’s late father’s house in Jalan Temoh, Kampung Baharin Pinji was in a bad condition and uninhabitable, so they rented a place until the money ran out and were forced to live in their Proton Iswara.

“We eat and bathe at a petrol station in Bandar Baru Kampar because we can’t afford to rent a house or pay for a hotel room. We feel uncomfortable and down that we have to live in a car. Added to this, I’m not in good health,” Rajakumari, who suffers from chronic diabetes, told reporters.

“However, we’ve received help from a non-governmental organisation, the office of the state assemblywoman and Bomba (Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia [JBPM]) who are rebuilding my late father’s house. I am overjoyed and so grateful to all of them,” she added.

Tualang Sekah state assemblywoman and Perak housing, local government and tourism committee chairman, Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi, said a two-bedroom house is being built for the couple with building material costing around RM20,000 and the JBPM contributing construction manpower.

“It’s a corporate social responsibility to help the poor by providing them with a comfortable home so that they can live a better life,” she said.

JBPM Perak director, Azmi Osman, said 32 Bomba personnel were assigned to build the house which is expected to be ready before Deepavali in November.

“We want the couple to celebrate Deepavali with joy, as well as give them a fresh start,” he said.

-- BERNAMA