Plight of family living in dilapidated houseboat gets Ketengah's attention

KUALA BERANG: The plight of a family in Hulu Terengganu who live in a dilapidated boathouse in Tasik Kenyir, has caught the attention of the Central Terengganu Development Authority (Ketengah).

Ketengah has agreed to provide temporary accommodation aid to the family of six while waiting for the construction of their house under the Hardcore Poor Housing Project (PPRT) to be completed in October.

Shamsuddin Khalid, 45, said his family would move to the Ketengah workers' quarters in Lawit in two or three days.

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Ketengah for its concern towards the wellfare and well-being of my family," he told reporters after a visit from Ketengah chairman Datuk Razali Idris and Telemong assemblyman Datuk Rozi Mamat to his houseboat today.

Meanwhile, Razali said the construction of the RM53,000 house, which would begin next month would be funded by the Ministry of Rural Development.

"We also provide some aid in the form of basic necessities for Shamsuddin's family today...his children will also be provided with a tablet to facilitate their home-based teaching and learning sessions.

"Hopefully, the temporary accommodation aid provided by Ketengah will give the family, especially the children a better life," he said.

The family's predicament caught the attention of many after the news about them went viral following last Friday's media reports.

Shamsuddin with his wife Nor Farhana Yusop, 30, and their four children - Nor Nadia Shahira, 11, Nor Syazlina Farahin, nine, Nor Azura Natasha, seven, and Nor Farhan Iskandar, eight months, have been living on the boathouse since two years ago.

Prior to this, the family lived in another boathouse on the lake for 10 years but had to vacate as the structure came close to sinking due to its bad condition.

-- BERNAMA