Marlina (left) hugs Eliza at the Zara Boutique Hotel where the contributions were presented.
KOTA KINABALU: Businesswoman and philanthropist Eliza Goh has always been known for her willingness to help others, particularly women.
Yesterday, she decided to donate a sewing machine and an oven to fire victim Marlina Marlan, whose plight was featured in The Borneo Post earlier this week.
“If I can help someone get back on their feet after suffering such a loss, I am more than willing,” said Eliza when asked of her decision to help Marlina.
She also said it was difficult to comprehend the sufferings one must have had to endure in such situation.
“I cannot imagine it. So if I can help in any little way to alleviate the feeling of pain and help Marlina get back on her feet, it is worth the effort,” she said.
Marlina, when receiving the contributions from Eliza could not contain her tears and thanked Eliza for her help.
She lost her entire belongings as well as her house in the fire that ravaged 55 houses and left over 300 people homeless last Friday at Kampung Pasir Putih in Putatan.
When asked by The Borneo Post on Monday what she hoped for, she mentioned a sewing machine and an oven as these would allow her to generate an income and feed her family.
She added that her sewing machine and oven had been destroyed along with everything else she owned.
She has since moved out of the temporary shelter at the multipurpose hall in Pasir Putih and is staying with relatives in Kinarut.