THREE years ago, housewife S. Kogila, her husband S. Paner Selvam and their three children lived in a small room at a house that was also occupied by 28 other tenants in Jalan Utama, Penang.
All the tenants shared a common bathroom and a toilet.
Paner Selvam’s efforts to obtain a People’s Housing Project (PPR) unit had been rejected twice as he was told that he was not a registered voter in Penang.
However, life turned for the better when Penang Hindu Association (PHA) stepped in and helped the family move into a PPR unit in Rifle Range, Penang within a few months.
Since then, Kogila, 42, Paner Selvam, 40, and their children, aged seven, five and three, are thankful to have a place of their own to call home.
Kogila said, “We are happy because the children have a proper house now and my eldest has also started school.
“We also get to do everything together as a family now at our house including celebrating birthdays and major festivals like Deepavali for the past three years.”
Kogila and her family were among 95 families who turned up at the Caring Society Complex to receive Deepavali hampers at a charity event organised by the PHA and Klinik Derma Sivasanta under the Temple of Fine Arts, Penang.
Another 55 families who were unable to attend the event due to medical complications and who are single parents will get their packages personally delivered.
Each family received an aid package containing 35 grocery items worth about RM150. They also received a goodie bag with Deepavali snacks and sweets.
In addition, adults received RM50 each to buy festival related items while children received RM5 angpow for the festive season.
Recipients and guests were also treated to vegetarian food.
First-time aid recipient Pavistina Singho Henry Singho, 39, who is on a wheelchair after her right leg was amputated in May due to diabetes, said she found out about the aid from PHA president P. Murugiah.
“I have known Murugiah since I was very young, and I have always looked up to him for helping the underprivileged.
“In the past, I have also referred many poor and needy people who needed aid to Murugiah, but it looks like it is my turn now,” said the former kindergarten teacher.
Pavistina, who is married but has no children, said her husband is a rider who earns RM700 per month but the family’s monthly expenses come up to RM1,200 with the bulk of the money used for bills, her medication and transportation for her hospital check-ups.
“I will be going to Melaka soon for my prosthetic leg fitting and once I get my prosthetic leg, I plan to start a small business from home to help my husband with the expenses,” she said.
In his speech, Murugiah said less fortunate Indians resorted to borrowing money to buy groceries and clothes to celebrate Deepavali.
“Due to fast approval and no paperwork, loan sharks have become a popular choice for some families.
“Low-income and inability to manage the ever-escalating cost of living seem to be their main reason to resort to seeking the loan sharks,” he said.
Guest of honour at the event was Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, who in his speech, said he will ensure that Klinik Derma Sivasanta, which provides free medical services to the needy, continues operating at its current premises in River Road at a minimal rental.
He praised PHA for looking out for those needing aid, especially during festive seasons like Deepavali.
“We need organisations like these which are always reaching out to the needy in our society,” he said.
Jagdeep also spoke about the importance of education to help lift a community out of poverty.
He shared a memory of his late father Karpal Singh who had urged him to continue his studies abroad even while he was handcuffed to a bed at Taiping Hospital after being detained during Ops Lalang.
Also present at the event at Caring Society Complex were state social development, welfare and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim, Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid and Penang Island City councillors who later presented the packages to recipients.
