Happening Around Us - 03 August 2017

[Saravanan Kandasamy]

Hi All,

Welcome to my Malaysian Indian's Bulletin Board (myMIBB). If you are receiving this email, then your email ID is listed in our mailing list. If you are wondering on what this initiative is all about, please view the frequently asked questions section at https://www.dropbox.com/s/itx1mdfackuky10/myMIBB_FAQ.txt

Let's see what we have for you today,

From myMIBB's Desk

I have been away for quite a time. Had fair bit of challenges myself such as promotion that came with added responsibility, shifting homes, health issues and etc that did not give me more time to spend online as I used to have. When I finally thought I saw light at the end of tunnel, it is actually a train that comes in the reverse direction :-) I will be moving to Canada by end of this month from Portugal which had been my base for the last 10 years. Will get back again on the routine bulletin when I got settled there. The below is an urgent request hence shooting this email ASAP. Meanwhile if you are in Canada, do email me at svan...@gmail.com, let see if we could find some time for coffee.

Distress Email - Mother of 3 in extreme desperation for help

Mogan came across the predicament of Jessica and he narrated it as below. 

The Predicament:

Family of five from Bukit Tengah. Used to be very happy family and the father manage the family with steady income. The father used to manage own transportation business with friends. In 2015 the father started having constant fever which required admission to the hospital and the condition seems not improving and he became bedridden. He lost his job and all the savings exhausted, he unable to apply for SOCSO as his contribution from his previous employment is not enough. On 20/9/2016 he was diagnosed and confirmed that he is having HIV positive and in 2017 he was down with tuberculosis. Since then the life of the family shattered as relatives had started to isolate them. 

The mother endured highly stressful life thinking the fate of the husband and children. She started to mortgage slowly all her jewelries to support the family and this become main source of income for the family in 2015 and 2016. She mortgaged all her jeweleries said to worth RM 20,500. In 2017 she started to work however she was in intense pressure thinking of the family which require constant medical reference. She was referred to psychiatric evaluation. Finally she was terminated by her employer due to high absenteeism.

She even decided to stop her elder daughter from going to school. It was the courage of the elder daughter as she decided to write about the family predicament to a doctor whose daughter studying together with her. In the letter she pleaded to the doctor to pay her school bus expenses so that she can continue study. The doctor paid the bus expenses and relate the case to Mogan and his friends.

The mother fold hands seeking help from well wishers as she has no avenues at the moment to support the family. She broke into tears when no one from her relatives visited them. She is in intense stress thinking the future of her children.

Supporting documents and photos,

Refer: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dirxv7i2gi7wc2c/Jessica.pdf

Mogan has devised the below plan to assist for 6 month, giving us time to position her for more sustainable long term assistance available currently as listed below..

How you can help the family,

1. To support school transport charges for six months:  Laveena Nair – RM 85 x 6 = 510, Thitica Nair = RM 50 X 6 = RM 300, Naresh Nair : RM 50 X 6 = RM 300. Total : RM 1110

2. To support purchase of UPSR reference book and exam mock papers for Thitica Nair : RM 150

3. To buy spectacle for Laveena Nair – RM 180

4. To buy school shoes for Laveena, Thitica and Naresh as they have only one pair – RM 40 X 3 = RM 120

5. To support school food money : RM 3 X 3 children X 20 days X 6 months = RM 1080

6. To pay the pending electricity and water bill - RM 1264 + RM 86.65 = RM 1350.65

7. To buy groceries for six months – RM 300 X 6 = RM 1800

Total : RM 5790.65

Note: The six month plan is to cover the expenses of the above so that the mother can start work and receive aid from Welfare Department.

Long term help

1. To apply for welfare department monthly financial assistance for the children.

2. To find suitable job for the mother so that she can carry on to shoulder the family

3. Explore any potential for this case to be classified as Miskin Tegar for Penang State Government financial assistance

4. Approach women organization to do counseling for the mother

Update 03 August 2017 : Mogan took Jessica's child for eye inspection. The eye is said to be affected badly as last spectacles was not changed for about three years. Her power is around 500 to 600 with quite bad astigmatisme.

Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/Apkd4xSL6CVPfZVU9

If you are keen to help, do contact Mogan at mogansin...@gmail.com for further discussion and stating your pledge.

Ok that's all from me.

Let's Shine.

rgds

Saravanan Kandasamy

myMIBB