Jerudong Family Lives In The Dark
By Liza Mohd

Bandar Seri Begawan - As colourful electric lights to celebrate Hari RayaAidilfitri decorate most houses, a family in Jerudong uses oil lamps.

Dayang Siah binte Kamis, 37, mother of 11 children, said her family gets its electric supply from her neighbours for over 10 years.

Her 42-year-old Malaysian husband, Awang Jusni bin Hj Ahad, relies on fishing as his main source of income to bring up their children. His earning is unstable.

She said her husband is not a Brunei citizen and this poses difficulties for him to get employment.

Because of financial difficulties, they could not afford to have their own electric supply and carry repair works on their house, which is falling apart.

The family hopes the deteriorating floor, leaking rooftop and the unstable house standing on a muddy land will be repaired for their safety.

Their house on Jalan Pulau Kubu, Jerudong, on temporary land (TOL), is leaking. A recent rainstorm blew away the rooftop for which they received a $500 contribution to fix it, she said.

Dayang Siah said she forwarded her application for assistance years ago to relevant departments for repair works. After a few officials took photographs inside and outside her house, no further action has been taken until now, she said.

"My only concern is the children's safety due to the unstable condition of my house. At this stage, we could not afford to fix the problem," she said.

Her eldest child, 19, is still unemployed. The rest of her children, aged five to 11, are still schooling.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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