KOTA KINABALU – A heartwarming show of support from the community has provided some relief to 49-year-old Fatima Simbi, a single mother residing in Sembulan.
Her dilapidated house, which has been in the family for generations, is in urgent need of repairs.
Following coverage of Fatima’s story by the press, help started pouring in.
However, there is still a shortfall in funds to hire workers for the repairs.
Generous donations of RM11,000 worth of construction materials, including planks, have been collected, but additional funds are required to cover labour costs.
The initiative, led by Warisan leaders Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah and Datuk Junz Wong – assemblymen for Petagas and Tg Aru respectively – has already made a significant impact.
However, a few more thousand ringgit are needed to ensure skilled workers can carry out essential repairs on Fatima’s house.
“I was told that all the materials to repair my house are ready. But we still need workers to do the repairs.
“I have asked around, but the cost could be higher than expected,” she told The Vibes here yesterday.
A check into Fatima’s identity revealed that she possesses a MyKad and is a resident in the Api-Api constituency under Sabah PKR chief Datuk Christina Liew, which is within the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat’s purview.
Help had been sought from Liew, but to date, only elected representatives from the Putatan constituency have come forward to assist Fatima.
The house, originally built by Fatima’s father in the 1970s and rebuilt in the late 1990s after a fire, suffered further damage from a recent storm and heavy rainfall.
Parts of the roof and walls went missing, and the floor was severely damaged, later replaced only by plywood.
Fatima’s living situation has been a challenging one, with her disabled brother, Busoh Tamin, and her three children, Mohd Hisham, 20, Mohd Fadzley, 17, and Mohd Amirul, 16, residing with her in the house.
Despite the difficulties, Fatima remains resilient and grateful for the assistance received from the community and political parties.
The repairs on Fatima’s house will not only provide her family with a safe and comfortable living environment, but also represent the compassionate spirit of Kota Kinabalu's residents.
The generosity of those who have contributed to the cause has already made a positive impact on Fatima’s life.
Since her story was publicised, Fatima’s salary has also been raised to RM1,250 from RM1,150, providing her with some additional financial stability to sustain her family’s needs. – The Vibes, August 8, 2023
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