All that we want is a house that we can called a home

....... Today, Monday 30th November 2009 - melawat sebuat keluarga yang di yang menghadapi masaalah atau kesempitan dari segi hartabenda dan kewangan. Keluarga ini telah berdaftar dengan JAPEM, Kuala Belait.

Pepatah melayau ada menyebut, 'Berat lagi mata memandang tapi berat lagi bahu memikul'. Meliat akan keadaan keluarga ini, kitaani akan merasa sedih dan terharu - meliat akan keadaan rumah yang di diami oleh keluarga tersebut. Meluahkan kata-kata kasihan tidak bermakna - seandai nya kitaani sendiri yang merasa betapa pahit dan seksanya kehidupaan ini.

This family, comprise of a mom, dad and their 4 young children, 3 boys and a small girl. The father currently working in a scrap yard, earning less than B$200 a month, the mother a house wife. The eldest son unemployed and only compeleted primary 5, the 2nd child studying in a near by secondary school (currently, form 1A or Year 7) and consider be a very bright student, got 5As in his PSR and average monthly exam result of 95%. The family have high hopes for him - bringing the family out of poverty and hardship.

They been living in this house for the past 18 years!!!!!, the area is known for it's notorious illegal settlement. Currently, the family is registered with JAPEM, KB and received a monthly income of B$900 for ONLY a year. They are not sure if they will received the monthly income after a year....

The mom was telling me an interesting story on how one of the so called govt officer visited the house but dare not to come in. He only took photos of the family and the house from outside... !!!!!!!!!!

One's always thought that after His Majesty titah on 7 october during the Majlis penyerahan document agihan baki wang zakat kepada asnaf fakir miskin and al-gharimin, that Brunei Darussalam should be free from poverty......

I was told, they have been visited by various organisations eg. Yayasan, Majlis Ugama Islam, Jabatan Daerah, Ketua kampung and promising them a house but until now there's no news from them.... except a letter from Yayasan saying your application is under consideration!

And in His Majesty titah',

"Kalau ada individu-individu yang masih tercicir, sedang mereka menganggap diri mereka juga berhak, maka perkara itu perlulah dirujukkan kepada pihak berkenaan untuk diteliti. Pihak yang berkenaan akan melihat sama ada mereka menepati kategori fakir miskin ataupun sebaliknya."

"Dalam pada itu, pihak berkuasa yang menangani kutipan dan agihan zakat, hendaklah bersikap lebih peka dan proaktif dalam memantau dan menilai keadaan masyarakat yang dianggap berhak kepada zakat. "

"Bukanlah setakat menunggu pemohon-pemohon datang, kerana bukan semua orang mampu utuk datang, atau setengahnya itu mungkin sahaja tidak tahu siapa dan di mana hendak dituju. "

"Ini, tentulah akan turut pula mencabar peranan dan kepimpinan para pemimpin masyarakat, seperti Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat yang dilantik, Penghulu-penghulu dan Ketua-ketua Kampung. "

One question remain..how long can they live in this house? or would you live in a house like this?

who would ever thought that a bruneian family would live in a house like this....

The roof...on a brink of collapse

Every time there's a heavy downpour...the floor would be flooded...

The kitchen....

The living room which also serve as the bedroom and study room for the kids

...the rain water collected used for showering and drinking...

the wife showing us the roof...

certificates showing the achievements of the 2nd child...