Family receives most meaningful ‘Gawai gift’

Posted on May 29, 2012, Tuesday By he Borneo Post

 PRECIOUS GAWAI GIFT: PMC chairman Lo Khere Chiang (front second left) hands over the mock house key to Luis in front of the newly completed house during the simple presentation ceremony yesterday.

KUCHING: A family from Kampung Seratau at KM24 Kuching-Serian Road near here have no words to describe their happiness as their Gawai gift this year is a house worth RM43,000.

Housewife Shalia Charles from Kampung Sinjok said since she was born 45 years ago she grew up in a split bamboo and atap roof house.

After she married Snless Luis Siup from Kampung Seratau, the couple and their son and three daughters aged between 23 and 17 continued to stay in a similar house.

This was because her husband was only doing odd-jobs while she was unemployed until she managed to get a job as a cleaner at a supermarket in Kota Padawan recently.

In view of their living standard, the family never dreamed of living in a decent concrete house like others but now they have one as a Gawai present.

“A big thank you to the government, through the urban poverty eradication programme and the Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) for helping to construct the concrete house at a cost of RM43,000.”

Luis said the beautiful thing was the house was handed over to them just before the Gawai Dayak celebration.

“We will remember this Gawai gift from the government for the rest of our lives,” he said.

Constructed since March 14, the house with three bedrooms, bathroom, toilet, dining room and kitchen, was completed a month later.

It was, however, officially handed over to the family by PMC chairman Lo Khere Chiang at a simple occasion witnessed by some of his councilors and Kampung Seratau village headman and his committee members.

“This is the most precious gift I have ever received throughout my life. It is most meaningful to our family and I want to thank the government, from the bottom of my heart, for helping us build our house.

“If not with the government’s help we would still be living in our old house until this very day. Like anyone else I also hope to have a decent home to live in but we just can’t afford to. Every time I hope to strike lottery so that we can build a new house but that also never comes true,” he said in jest.

Shalia said she used to feel jealous whenever she saw neighbours or relatives moving into their new concrete houses.

“So every time I will pray to God that one day He will fulfill my wish of having a proper house and my dream came true when the council advised me to apply for a housing project under the urban poverty eradication programme. Our application was duly approved,” she said.

The family, whose household income was below RM720 per month, was among those registered under e-kasih.

Other criteria for hardcore poor families to be eligible for the housing scheme were that the houses they were living in are dilapidated, rotting and unsafe to live in.

They must also own a piece of land and priority would be given to senior citizens or those having more than five family members.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/29/family-receives-most-meaningful-gawai-gift/#ixzz1yl4U5Q5o