It all became possible when the individual who bought the house at an earlier auction, aborted the purchase and donated the RM44,500 deposit he paid, to settle part of the couple’s outstanding loan.

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) lead activist Nadzim Johan said a deal had been reached with Affin Bank to cancel the auction it planned to reclaim the rest of the loan taken on the house.

He said the NGO was also pushing the bank to annul the couple’s bankruptcy status and instead give them a loan so they could repurchase the house.

“We are now waiting for Affin Bank to finalise the annulment of their (the couple’s) bankruptcy status.”

The owner, identified as Nor, 42, and her husband had earlier expressed gratitude to the Good Samaritan, known as Lee Hui Sen, who had taken pity on the family.

Lee had visited the home in Subang 2, Shah Alam, after winning the auction and noticed the couple and children were still staying there.

A Facebook post on the Good Samaritan’s deed, together with a letter Lee had written the family, complete with feng shui advice, went viral.

PPIM launched a public appeal soon after in a bid to collect funds to help the couple own the house.

Nadzim urged the finance ministry and Bank Negara to ensure such scenarios did not occur to other individuals in the future.

“They must come out with a ruling that banks cannot declare those with assets as bankrupt.”