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S. KASTHURIBAI – the mother of teenager S. Sathiswaran, who was struck and killed by a falling chair flung from a top floor of a low-cost apartment block in 2018 – is still waiting for the free house politicians promised her.
Six years have passed since she witnessed the death of her son right in front of her.
The grieving mother, however, said she is still paying rent for the house she lives in, despite promises from politicians to get it free for her.
“I still remember, when my son died, several politicians came to my house, making all sorts of promises, including getting me a house for free.
“Initially, I thought it was all genuine effort to help me, but later I realised it was all just a political drama to gain sympathy and votes using my issue and situation,” the 50-year-old said.
Kasthuribai, who works as a restaurant helper, said she is unable to pay rent as she is struggling financially, given that she is separated from her husband and is now the sole breadwinner for her family.
The monthly rental for the house she lives in is RM124, and she owes more than RM2,000.
The Malaysian Insight saw what appeared to be rental payment receipts and a red notice from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for arrears.
Kasthuribai said in June, officers from DBKL came to interview her and take details, saying they would be submitting them in trying to get her a free house.
There have been no updates since, she said.
“My eldest son and I are sleeping on cardboard, without a bed or mattress.
“I’m also servicing a loan that was taken by my husband before he left me.
“There is so much I need to do as a single mother, and I’ve not got any aid or help as people say or claim,” she sobbed.
Kasthuribai said in 2018, Raja Nong Chik, then-Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for Lembah Pantai, and current lawmaker Fahmi Fadzil had promised her a new house in the same block.
Nong Chik lost the election, thus did not pursue the matter.
In 2019, Fahmi, however, said Kasthuribai’s family would be given a new unit in the same block for free.
Fahmi had then said the house would be given under the Baiti-Jannati scheme, which meant when her family received the unit, valued at about RM35,000 to RM40,000, they would not need to pay for anything except maintenance.
Her family eventually moved to a new unit on the second floor in the same block, but Kasthuribai said it was not freely given as promised.
In 2021, Kasthuribai called to attention the promises made by politicians to her, saying she was still paying monthly rent for her house.
Fahmi had then responded, saying he had helped her family and would continue to do so.
On the issue of free housing, Fahmi said it was a promise made during the BN regime when Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was then-federal territories minister.
Fahmi said he had no executive power to grant Kasthuribai and the family free housing, adding that this came under the jurisdiction of DBKL.
He also said he could not do much given that Pakatan Harapan (PH) also lost federal power in 2020 following the infamous Sheraton Move.
However, Kasthuribai is asking what is stopping Fahmi, who is the communications minister, from helping her now, given that PH is the federal government and that a fellow party member – Dr Zaliha Mustafa – now helms the Federal Territories Ministry.
“I don’t think it will be difficult for Fahmi to fulfil his promises now given that they are the government.
“I’m not asking much but want those to fulfil their promises made to me, so that I can continue with my life.
“I just want them to give me the current house I’m residing in now for free. I don’t want to relocate anywhere because this is where my son died.
“I still hope Fahmi and DBKL would be able to give me this house I’m currently residing in for free, without asking me to move elsewhere,” she said.
Fahmi, who is the PKR communications director, previously said he had aided her family by helping Kasthuribai’s eldest son Yogeswaran get a scholarship from TOC Automotive College in Petaling Jaya.
He, however, said Yogeswaran had stopped attending college within a month of enrolment.
Fahmi did not respond when asked about new developments regarding Kasthuribai’s request.
On January 15, 2018, Sathiswaran, a form three student at SMK La Salle Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, was on the ground floor of the PPR Sri Pantai flats with Kasthuribai when he was struck by a chair flung from the 21st floor of the low-cost flats. He later died from massive head injuries.
The case was initially classified as manslaughter but was later reclassified as murder.
Since then, there have been no updates on the case.
“It has been more than six years since my son died but until today the culprit is not apprehended.
“If this was a son of any VIP, minister or someone prominent, I’m sure the police would have found the culprit and brought him to justice,” she said. – July 10, 2024.