Mute couple receive new home ahead of Aidilfitri celebration

A mute couple never expected to receive such a meaningful gift this Aidilfitri, namely a comfortable and beautiful new place to call home.

The feeling was expressed by Muhammad Isa, 52, and translated by his eldest brother Abdul Ghafar Isa, 57, after the handing over ceremony of Tenaga Nasional Berhad's (TNB) Negeri Sembilan ''Baiti Jannati'' (My Home, My Heaven) programme here, today.

"He (Muhammad) could actually speak, but at the age of four, he came down with a fever and then lost his voice. He is very happy and surprised to have received such a comfortable and beautiful home, " Abdul Ghafar told Bernama here.

Muhammad, who is the fourth of 10 siblings, works as a barber in Kampung Serting Tengah, Batu Kikir here, he said.

"His wife is also deaf, and they have no children," said Abdul Ghafar.

Serting assemblyman Datuk Shamsulkahar Mohd Deli who is also State Education and Health Committee chairman handed over the keys to the new three-bedroom house during the ceremony which was also attended by the TNB Negeri Sembilan General Manager (Customer Services) Wan Ishak Soed.

Meanwhile, Wan Ishak said the ''Baiti Jannati'' programme was part of TNB's corporate social responsibility initiative, heeding the government's call for government-linked companies (GLCs) to help renovate homes of target groups such as the disabled, single mothers, elderly and poor people living in rural areas.

-- BERNAMA