Single father of three grateful for new home after living in dilapidated bamboo house

Tapah MP M. Saravanan provided a new home for a single father and his three children after their previous bamboo-and-thatch house became unsafe.

PETALING JAYA: A single father of three is grateful to have received a new and comfortable home after his previous bamboo-and-thatch house became severely damaged, riddled with holes and dilapidated.

According to a report by Kosmo, Raas Basresh, 36, said his income was barely enough to make ends meet, often requiring him to rely on help from family members and close relatives.

“My daily income is between RM40 and RM50. I also need money for my children’s schooling and food, so there is no opportunity for me to save enough to build a house of my own.

“I am self-employed. I collect fiddlehead ferns, operate grass-cutting machinery and take on odd jobs in the village,” he said at Kampung Orang Asli Batu 9, Jalan Pahang in Tapah today.

He said his previous bamboo-and-thatch home had become severely damaged, with holes and signs of deterioration, making it unsafe for him and his three children.

“We had lived there for 10 years before applying for a house through Tapah MP Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

“I am very grateful to him for providing this house for me and my children so that we can live in greater comfort and safety, especially as they study and grow up,” he said.

Raas, who has three children aged between seven and 11, said they were delighted when they first entered their new home, with each of them excited about having their own room.

Meanwhile, Saravanan, in a social media post, said smiles could be seen on the faces of the families from Kampung Orang Asli Batu 9, Tapah, after receiving the keys to their new home.

“Thank you immensely for the warm hospitality from the entire Orang Asli community of Batu 9, Tapah. It was a very meaningful visit as I had the opportunity to have a casual conversation and listen to the aspirations of the local community to ensure that every development truly reaches those who need it.

“The Orang Asli community is part of us and must be uplifted together as part of the nation’s development,” he said.