GEORGE TOWN – Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng has pledged to rebuild the house of vegetable seller Effandy Abdul Rahim, which was gutted about two weeks ago.
Lim’s assistant Hong Kian Beng said they will help rebuild the house, but added that the dispute over ownership of the land the house stands on has to be resolved first.
“Lim has visited the victims and offered a total of RM10,000 and food items to the family of three, and arranged for a state housing unit. Effandy, however rejected the offer,” he said.
Hong was responding to the plight of Effandy, which was highlighted by the media yesterday.
Effandy, who is a 32-year-old heart patient, his wife Salbilla Suriyadi, 41, and their 2-year-old daughter Nuur Zulaleca saw their house go up in flames on April 6, just a week before Ramadan began.
Effandy, who is receiving treatment at Penang Hospital, has been unemployed for about a year, but earns around RM1,000 a month selling fruits and vegetables.
Penang Hindu Association president P. Murugiah provided food items to the family yesterday and donated RM1,000 as a start for them to rebuild their house. – The Vibes, April 20, 2021