By CHRISTINA TAN | Apr 8, 2010
Couple get a better home after living in a shack for 40 years
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New look: Ong checking on the restoration work taking place at the couple’s home at Kampung Pandan here Wednesday.
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newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Four decades of living in a dilapidated home finally ended happily for an elderly couple, thanks to the 1Malaysia Community Alliance (1MCA) Foundation.
A mobile squad unit from the foundation is restoring the wooden house in Kampung Pandan, free of charge, for retired postal worker Abdul Wahad Ariffin, 66, and his wife Ainon Mohd Nor, 64.
Former MCA president and Pandan MP Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said he found out about the couple’s plight some time ago.
“I was shocked to see the house. The roof was leaking, the paint had worn out and the whole house was falling apart,” he said after visiting the family and checking on the progress of the repair work yesterday.
The restoration, costing between RM20,000 and RM25,000, started in March 24 and is 95% completed.
Ong said it would provide the family a much more habitable condition.
The 1MCA Foundation was set up early this year to help those in need regardless of race and background.
The foundation’s unit travels around the country to provide services such as helping the public to deal with government departments and to provide basic healthcare.
Ong, who is also Transport Minister, said he would continue to provide his best services to the people despite his defeat in the March 28 party election.
Ong said he had identified the hardcore poor in his constituency before the party election and his intention to help was based on a “Malaysian First” principle.
“I adopt the same approach for MCA.
“Although MCA is a Chinese-based party, but none of the initiatives undertaken by MCA during my tenure as president catered for only one race,” he said, adding that he had no qualms in reiterating his stance of being a Malaysian first and Chinese second.
Ainon expressed her heartfelt thanks to Ong for lending a helping hand.
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