Kuching: Naim Holdings Berhad together with Hope Church Kuching brought Christmas gifts to 49-year-old Engker Jising, a single mother of 15 in Kampung Apar, Bau, last Sunday.

Representatives from the company and members of the Church held a Christmas party at the house of Engker's parents before handing over RM5,000 and basic necessities, including food and clothes, to her.

Naim Head of Corporate Marketing, Caroline Yeo, said: "Naim has a very strong outreach programme whereby we connect with the less fortunate members of the society and assist them in ways we can.

"This is beyond corporate social responsibility - this is from our hearths, driven by a passion to make a difference in people's life."

Engker was left to raise her 12 daughters and three sons when her husband, Raber Liso, died due to a heart ailment two years ago.

Despite help from her three daughters who had married and other children who are working, Engker's income of around RM300 a month from selling jungle produce and handicrafts is barely enough to meet the expenses of her seven school-going children.

Speaking to The Borneo Post, Engker said that the visit and the gifts from Naim was a great cheer for her family's Christmas this year and they were very thankful to the company for its help.

She and her family had another reason to be thankful as she had been told that the keys to her new house would be handed over to her a few days after Christmas.

The construction of the house was started by her husband but he died before he could complete it.

Her plight and the uncompleted house were brought to the attention of the Malaysian army which sent their men to complete the building under their ‘Jiwa Murni' programme.

"He was in the midst of completing the house which he built himself when he died and the Royal Malaysian Army, through their ‘Jiwa Murni' programme, completed the construction of the house recently," she said.

Engker added that the new house would be a great relief for her and her family as they had to squat at her parents' house at the moment.

Meanwhile, Pastor Magerita Murib said: "Only those who have gone through what this family have gone through will understand how hard life can be and we are happy that Naim came forward to assist this family," "Every little help goes a long way and we look forward to future opportunities with Naim," she added.

--Courtesy of The Borneo Post Online