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This story is about a Malaysian woman, Grace Edward, and her family who have no choice but to live next to a rubbish dump in a low-cost housing area in Puchong, KL.
Meet Grace: She lives with her husband and son in a low-cost apartment in Puchong, near Old Klang Road.
10 years ago, Grace was living a happy life with her husband. They had just gotten married and she was expecting a baby. They were not well-off, but they were hopeful for the future.
However, life took a turn for the worse when her husband met with an accident at work – sustaining a head injury, losing half an ear, and breaking his jaw bones.
After his traumatic head injury, he was classified as an OKU (person with disabilities) and couldn’t hold down a normal job. For the last few years, he’s been working as a mechanic and earns just RM1450 a month to get by.
Grace’s mother fell ill and needed an oxygen tank
Grace and her family were making just enough money just to get by, but tragedy struck in 2023 when Grace’s mother fell ill with COVID and had to be hospitalised.
The doctors told Grace that her mother would need to use an oxygen tank, which cost more than RM10,000. Grace was forced to borrow money from friends and family to keep her mother alive.
After her mother passed away, the family didn’t even have money for the funeral—they had to borrow even more sums of money for the casket, sending Grace spiraling further into debt.
Living next to a rubbish dump is making them sick
The rubbish is less than 10 meters away from Grace’s flat.
For a year now, Grace and her family have been living in a low-cost flat above the rubbish dump downstairs.
Her 9 year old son, Sritharan, often falls sick due to the presence of rats, which are attracted to the rubbish dump. His condition worsened and he had to be admitted to the hospital for asthma.
The doctors advised Grace to move out from her flat because of its closeness to such unsanitary conditions. But being over RM10,000 in debt and struggling to make ends meet on a RM1450 salary, that is currently not an option for Grace.
Grace’s son and the neighbors have also developed rashes on their skin ever since the rubbish situation worsened.
Grace and her family are struggling each day to make ends meet
Rats are a common sight in these low-cost flats in Puchong, due to the overflowing rubbish and nearby shoplot restaurants.
For the family, their rent with utilities, including mobile, electricity, and water bills, amounts to RM550 a month. Their monthly food expenses come up to RM350 per person.
Grace has stopped sending her son to school at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Shin Cheng (Harcroft), because they cannot afford the bus fare which is RM250 a month.
At night, they often go without food, and rely on the kindness of friends and neighbors to help them with daily necessities.
“My husband’s boss also helped us so much, brother. With anything, he always helps us as much as he can, he’s really a good person,” Grace shared with IRL.
When asked how much is needed to survive in Kuala Lumpur, she said: “At least RM3000.”
The message on the wall reads: “Hi, (derogatory) jangan buang sampah di sini.” (Hi, don’t throw your rubbish here.”)
Grace has a message for readers of IRL:“If anyone can help for my son’s school transportation, it will be very helpful, brother.”
This story sheds light on the financial struggles of the B40 group, highlighting the harsh reality that just one medical emergency can deplete their savings entirely.
If you would like to help out financially, here is Grace Edward’s information::
Name: Grace Edward
Contact number: +60 14-953 2431
Address: L1-23, Block B, Jalan TK 1/11g, Taman Kinrara, 47180 Puchong, Selangor
Bank account number: 1121 2500 673 247
Bank account owner name: Grace Edward
Bank name: RHB
Help Grace’s family get back on their feet by sharing this story.
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Read also: This fruit seller had an accident and needs aid to feed her 5 children
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