SIBU: Life has been very difficult for Tiong Ngik Chin as she has to singlehandedly care for her two autistic children.
Her husband left her 19 years ago to fend for herself when she gave birth to her second child.
“I believe that he did not want to shoulder the burden of taking care of the two boys who need special care. He has simply disappeared from us. I don’t even know where he is now,” said Tiong, 54, to reporters yesterday.
Dudong Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Women Wing chief Kapitan Connie Loh led reporters to Tiong’s dilapidated wooden detached house to hand over financial aid.
Tiong’s children are now aged 19 and 29. They had to quit schooling due to their disability. The family is also too poor to support their education.
She is only working part-time as a dish washer at a coffeeshop because she has to devote her time to looking after the two boys.
The family is relying on financial assistance of RM300 monthly from the Welfare Department.
Her eldest son has been hospitalised as he was unconscious after hitting himself with his hands. The other son could not talk but only screams to relay his message.
“Usually when I go out to work, I will have to lock the two boys in two different rooms because of their conditions,” she said.
The family has been staying in the house located in Jalan Jerrwit which belongs to Tiong’s mother since three years ago. Its ceiling is leaking and some windows are dotted with holes. The wooden staircase of the house is also unstable and shaky, and can be quite dangerous to walk on.
They do not even have mattresses to sleep on.
Meanwhile, Loh said Tiong came to her office a few days ago to seek help.
“I can see that she is struggling, trying to make ends meet. Our Women’s Wing has decided to donate a certain amount of money from our I-Care fund to tide her over,” she said.
On the house, Loh said branch chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King had agreed to repair it with funds from Program Penambahbaikan Rumah Rakyat Miskin Sarawak (PPRMS).
“A contractor will assess how much is needed to repair the house. It needs to be repaired so that it is fit for dwelling,” she added.
Loh also hoped that members of the public could help the family.
