The Malaysian Insight

THEIR faces bear witness to a long, harsh life. Their dilapidated homes appear as frail as their bodies, which continue to toil in a poverty that few can believe still exists in Malaysia’s wealthiest state of Selangor.

Not more than 10km from Bandar Klang, a squatter’s village in Jalan Tengku Badar is overrun with families who can barely afford to survive. It is made up of bout 30 houses built on  private land.

Three families share their story with The Malaysian Insight.

Ismail Sipad, 81, and his wife Amnah Alan, 72, have lived for almost 20 years at the settlement, eking out a living by begging and collecting empty tin cans and metal goods for recycling.

The couple, who have three children, say they can barely make RM500 a month.

“Now, my body is failing me. It’s hard to keep collecting,” said Amnah.

When asked about their children, the couple only say they have two sons and a daughter, but appear reluctant to say more.

“I don’t want to talk about my children, there’s no point,” said Amnah, but added that her daughter does give the couple RM150 a month to help out.

Amnah and her husband has had to look to charitable organisation Reach Out for food and other basic needs.

“We don’t eat much, but we will head to a spot under the bridge to get some food.

“Sometimes it’s burgers, sometimes it’s bread, biscuits. Thankfully, we can still survive,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

Ismail, who worked as an odd-job labourer 20 years ago, said help from charities and members of the public was greatly appreciated.

“Last year, our electricity bill for the house accumulated into the hundreds. I went out to ask for help, and thankfully, they helped.

“But now, just to travel to the city is hard. I had surgery on my legs because last year, I fell off a bicycle,” said Ismail. 

The couple say they have asked for help from Lembaga Zakat Selangor last year, but have yet to receive a response.

“We have gone to (pusat zakat) to ask for help. Filled forms, and came back. They said to wait for their call, but till now, there has not been any call,” said Amnah.

Stuck in a rut

Ismail and Amnah’s neighbour, Esah Mohd Amin (pic), has been living alone with a few stray cats for company after her only child died in June.

“We live alone here. My son has passed away. We’re not afraid, there’s nothing to be afraid of since we’ve been living here for so long,” Esah, 71, said at her home that barely provides shelter from the heat and cold.

She said she also relies on Reach Out and neighbours to survive.

For 69-year-old Muthayee Letchuman, an accident that left her with a broken arm three months ago has caused her to be dependent on her daughter to meet daily expenses.

Muthayee was a cleaner at a temple nearby, but she now survives on the RM500 her daughter brings home as a dish washer and RM350 she gets from the welfare department.

“My husband died 20 years ago. I’m lucky my children also help out,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

She said her poor health had stopped her from travelling to the city to receive food donations by Reach Out.

“I don’t collect the food anymore. I’m always in pain. I eat a little on my own. Kind-hearted people give me rice, biscuits.”

On June 2, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) revealed that the number of families classified as hardcore poor and poor had increased to 46,500 in 2016, from 44,393 the year before.

According to the religious body, the main reason for the increase was the rising cost of living. 

Muthayee said despite her dire situation, she was intent on surviving and encouraged her daughter to work hard while she was still able.

“Our lives are hard, but we still want to work to make a living,” she said. – July 16, 2017.