New homes Raya joy for 3 families

This year's Hari Raya will be a special and memorable one for three families as they are going to celebrate the festivity in their new homes.

Hjh Mahal Jumaat, 99 years old, Hjh Tiawa Rais, 81, both from Kg Panchor Murai and 50-year-old Ani Abdullah from Kg Masin received the certificates for the completion of their houses from Islamic Religious Council (Muib), yesterday.

According to Hjh Mahal's daughter, their old house was in a dire state before help came. "The upper floor of the house collapsed due to termites. When the house collapsed, we all sleep together in the living room," said Siti Mariah Hj Kurus.

"Our house was repaired last year. The new house now stands at the spot of the old house."

Her mother had lived most of her years in the old house.

Hjh Mahal and her family are now living in the new three-bedroom bungalow with two of her five children.

Her other children often visited her during public or school holidays.This year, the family will be celebrating their second raya at the house.

For Hjh Tiawa Rais, she can now feel safe knowing that her house will not be affected by floodings, a common occurrence in the area.

Hjh Tiawa Rais family moved to their new home in April this year.

The three-bedroom stilt house was build for the family as the area is prone to floodings.

While the house was under construction, Hjh Tiawa and her family stayed with her sister who also lives in Kg Panchor Murai.

This will be their first raya in the new house.



The third recipient was Ani Abdullah who came to Brunei in 1985. Ani, a Muslim convert, received the assistance from Muib when her old house was destroyed in a fire in 2006. The family had since then move to a rental home in Bunut. "But we were asked to evacuate the house because of the landslide danger at the back area of the house. We then moved to Kg Sg Akar," she said.

According to Ani, she used to work at a textile shop for three years, until her health deteriorated as a result of spine and back pains which meant she could not do heavy work for long hours.

She now supplements her income by doing odd jobs for her neighbours. "I can earn $200 to $300 per month, but this also depends on my health. If I am sick, then I cannot do any work. My income (from this) is not fix," said the mother of one.

The construction of their new home began in September last year and was completed after two months. They moved in December, and endured having no electricity supply for two months.

"I prefer staying at this house, it is better than paying rent. Our neighbours help us a lot during that time," said Ani.

The house is now home to Ani, her mother, her son and daughter-in-law.

Ani, whose husband passed away six years ago, expressed gratitude on the assistance given to her family.

According to Muib, the three houses were built at the cost of $97,563, and each took less than six months to be completed.

Hj Abdul Wahab Hj Sapar, Muib Secretary during the handing over of the certificate yesterday expressed his hope that with the new home, the families could live comfortably and to better enable them to perform their religious obligations.

He said that the houses were built from the zakat (tithe) fund.

From 2009 until August 2010, Muib had help built 40 houses, provided home repair assistance to 19 houses, renovated four houses, purchased home appliances for two houses and install electrical wiring for another two.

The Brunei Times