Man receives govt assistance to repair roof blown off by strong wind

LIMBANG: A 44 year-old father’s joy in welcoming his first child into the family turned sour when the tail end of Ramusan typhoon ripped off the roof of his house here last week.

HELPING HAND: Dr Rahman (second right) hands over the assistance to Sudin witnessed by Azlan (third left) and Junidi (right) at Sudin’s house.

Sudin Matali, 44, of Kampung Merasam, could hardly hold back his tears when he saw the whole roof gone from the family’s house and his old mother traumatised by the experience on May 15.

Sudin estimated his losses to be over RM10,000.

His 68 year-old mother was the only one in the house when it happened at 7.45pm as Sudin with his wife and newborn child were at his in-law’s place at the nearby village.

He only knew of the incident the following morning when he turned up at the compound, seeing his old, frail mother sobbing as she related the harrowing experience of the house being damaged by ferocious winds and lashing rain during the night.

“We were overjoyed to be blessed with our first child born two weeks ago after waiting for so long but now we are left without a roof over our head and smashed up ceiling,” Sudin said.

“What saddens me most is the thought of my mother facing the ordeal and strong winds alone in the night without her son at her side.”

Sudin was thankful that her mother escaped injuries, although she was traumatised by the incident and is now fearful of strong winds.

He and his family had intended to hold a thanksgiving ceremony for the new bundle of joy but the plan has to be put on hold pending repairs to the house. 

Bukit Kota state assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail visited the family at their home with Baitulmal Limbang Foundation officials to hand over RM1,400 in cash and building materials from the Welfare Department.

He was accompanied by Limbang District Officer Azlan Ali Badri, Limbang Welfare Department’s representative Tambit Sungkai and Baitulmal Limbang branch representative Junidi Lamat.

According to Junidi, RM6,400 had been distributed as disaster relief funds to three families at Kampung Patiambun and Kampung Merasam affected by two incidents of strong winds between January and May this year.