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BUKIT MERTAJAM – It seems like the blessings of the holy month of Ramadan came early for Rosliza Hassan and her family, as they now have a new home after being evicted by the owner of their previous rented house.
The plight of the mother of 10, who has had to tend to her children alone after her husband went missing, has caught the attention of Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim.
Moved by her story, Sim took the family out to shop for essential items and even looked for a new home for them.
It all began a few days ago at 7am, when freelance photographer Keow Wee Loong, 33, who was on his way to breakfast, spotted Rosliza, 37, and some of her children sitting pitifully beside a pile of belongings in front of a house at Taman Machang Bubok here.
He took a picture of the woman, whose children are aged between 3 and 21, and posted it on social media, where it went viral and attracted Sim’s attention.
The eatery helper was left in a fix after being informed by her landlord to pack up and move out of the house she had rented since 2009.
“We didn’t have time to find a new house. Moreover, my pay as a restaurant helper is only RM700 a month,” Rosliza told The Vibes.
“My husband has disappeared somewhere. I am the only one who supports the family, along with two of my children, aged 20 and 21.”
She said she is happy and grateful when Sim arranged a new house for her family and bought them provisions.
“We have rarely been able to eat delicious food. We can afford to eat only rice fried with oil.”
Sim spent some time shopping with Rosliza and her family, and bought them basic necessities for the upcoming month of Ramadhan.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Sim shared how he was supposed to attend an important meeting with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng that morning, but cancelled after receiving information about the unfortunate woman.
“The mother, Puan Ros, has 10 children. The youngest is only 3. She sat outside the house crying over the fate of her children. The love of a mother is priceless.
“I want Puan Ros to know that I will make sure before the sun goes down today (Sunday), her family will have a roof over their heads.”
Zakat Pulau Pinang (ZPP) chief executive Amran Hazali said the agency has helped the family since 2011.
Rosliza receives a financial aid of RM500 and food aid of RM200 each month, he added.
“ZPP has also channelled early schooling assistance every year to her to help her children get a good education and not drop out of school.
“To celebrate Ramadan, ZPP will provide special cash aid and food hampers to eligible asnaf.”
Amran said ZPP could not visit the family as it is understood that she has been suffering emotionally after her story caught the attention of the community.
“We will give her enough time and consider providing additional assistance.” – The Vibes, April 5, 2021
