Widow’s plight get attention from community centre

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The team from Majulah Miri visiting Rosia at her house in Kampung Lereng Bukit.

MIRI: For Rosia Usop, there is nothing that could make her happier than seeing her two boys excel in their studies.

Towards this end, the 54-year-old widow strives to save up for her children’s education, despite struggling to make ends meet with her mere RM25 daily pay working at a local bakery shop.

Her oldest son is currently studying at Miri Industrial Training Institute (ILP) while her youngest is a Form 5 student.

The family is living in a wooden house at Kampung Lereng Bukit here, built by Rosia’s husband 15 years ago.

To say that it is a structurally stable home, however, would be to stretch the truth. Old and dilapidated, the roofing is in dire need of repair.

“Whenever there’s a downpour, we would be forced to take shelter at a relative’s house nearby. We also risk facing possible landslides, especially during the monsoon, given that the house had been built on a hilly area.

“Still, it’s the only legacy that we have from my late husband. With my meagre income, I really cannot afford to have the roof fixed,” Rosia said, adding that they had originally resided at her father’s house nearby.

However, they had to move out after her father sold the land there.

Still, Rosia said she was thankful that despite the hardship, they could still enjoy free water and electricity connection to the house, thanks to PBB Wanita Kampung Lereng Bukit chief Putit Hamdani.

“I owe her (Putit) much gratitude for her kindness in helping my family get by.”

Rosia’s plight came to the attention of local community leader Ketua Kaum Abu Bakar Abdullah, who informed it to businessman Datuk Hii King Chiong – founder of community service centre Majulah Miri.

Hii, together with social volunteers Councillor Bruce Chai and Councillor Kok Yung Kai, visited the mother of two yesterday to see what they could do further to lessen her burden.

He told reporters here that the service centre would help Rosia apply for a land lot at Tudan Desaras resettlement area, with the help from the Land and Survey Department.

“Her house is located at the hilly side, exposing her house to the danger of landslides.

“For safety seasons, we are not recommending for the current house to be repaired; rather, we believe that it would be more viable to help her get a piece of land and have her new house built there later,” Hii said.