Help comes pouring in from public for destitute Kedah couple

 

MIC central working committee member Dr T Novalan brought groceries and other items for Siva Palani and his wife Kalairani Edward.

SUNGAI PETANI: Help has started pouring in for the couple living in extreme poverty in Kampung Rusa, Bukit Selambau, Kedah, after their plight was highlighted earlier today.

Tears turned to smiles when MIC central working committee member Dr T Novalan paid a visit to Siva Palani, 58, and his wife Kalairani Edward, 49, around 5pm today.

“We brought some groceries such as rice and noodles. We will also provide the family with food items until Siva gets a job,” Novalan told FMT.

Novalan, a medical doctor, also checked on Kalairani’s knees and said he believed she might need to undergo knee replacement surgery on both legs.

He said the surgery would cost around RM20,000 for each knee, though he would help them apply for the PeKa B40 healthcare protection scheme so the couple would not have to bear the costs.

“But first, we need to conduct a complete health assessment, including an X-ray, to conclude the diagnosis,”

Former Bukit Selambau assemblyman R Summugam also paid the couple a visit around 3.30pm today.

Summugam said he had requested the committee of an Indian temple nearby to provide assistance to the family.

“I told the temple to help them with the rent and to help Siva get a job,” he said.

Meanwhile, as of 9pm today, members of the public have donated more than RM16,000 to the couple.

Earlier today, FMT reported that Siva and Kalairani have been living in extreme poverty after their children abandoned them, with the couple having close to nothing left in their wallets.

The couple said they have no money to cook a new meal every day, and they would usually stretch their meal for almost a week.

The couple also live in a run-down house that has no supply of running water, while the roof of their sparsely furnished home would leak when it rains. - FMT