Bleak Chinese New Year for family

On January 17, 2009, in Complaints & Actions

MCA state chairman Datuk Dr Yeow Chai Thiam handing over some
oranges aid to Fu Mee Foong’s family

Fu Mee Foong, 46, and her three daughters have to tighten their belts this Chinese New Year following the sudden loss of her husband.

The single mother cannot afford new clothes for her children or cookies for the festive season.

Her husband, Choo Choy, 53, died following a fall in their Rasah New Village home several months ago.

Fu now works as a dish washer at a restaurant, earning RM18 a day.

“My husband worked as an odd-job labourer and used to bring home RM1,000 a month. Now, my monthly income adds up to RM500 and it is just enough for us,” she said yesterday.

Fu said her family could only afford to eat bread for breakfast, noodle soup for lunch and some rice mixed with meat and vegetables for dinner.

She said her daughters, Choo Sook Yin, 11, Sook Sum, 10, and mildly mentally-challenged Sook Fen, 13, rarely got pocket money.

MCA state chairman Datuk Dr Yeow Chai Thiam said Fu had applied to the state Welfare Department for aid, while the party was helping her to look for a second job.

Yesterday, he visited the family with festive goodies and appealed to the public to help the family.

“We welcome any form of aid to make life more manageable for them this Chinese New Year season,” he said.

- NST -