For the past two years, she has been struggling to make ends meet by washing clothes after her husband, Othman Mohd Hassan, 76, could no longer work after contracting heart disease and suffering from gastritis and anaemia.

They stay in a rented flat in Kota Permai here.

“I used to sell drinks by the roadside, but after I fell ill, I started experiencing shortness of breath, body aches and tiredness.

“Now, I can no longer work, and my wife is forced to work even though she is blind,” said Othman, when met by reporters here today.

The couple’s two children, Siti Nor Afida, 13, and Siti Zuraida, 11, are currently studying at SMK Alma and SK Bukit Minyak respectively.

Meanwhile, Malikah, 34, who became blind after giving birth to her second child due to certain complications, said right now, her family could only make do with the monthly allowance of RM200 they received from the Social Welfare Department.

“With what I earn from washing clothes, it is far from enough to cover our monthly expenses as we need at least more than RM1,000 a month to pay the rent, bills, medical treatment for my husband and the children’s schooling expenses.”

The family’s hardship, however, caught the attention of a non-governmental organisation, One Hope Charity And Welfare, which came forward to help the family with monthly food supply and cash aid.

Its president, Chua Sui Hau, said the organisation gave RM4,000 in aid to the family today and was planning to raise funds totalling RM40,000 over a three-year period to help them.

“The funds will be channelled to the family at a rate of RM1,000 per month.

“Members of the public can also help by banking in their donations to Public Bank account number 3184938918 under the name “One Hope Charity And Welfare”, which was created specifically for Othman’s family,” Chua said,.

Chua said those who require further information can contact them at 016-4192191 or 04-5059800.

– BERNAMA