Kindness lights up elderly pair’s CNY

ELDERLY couple Loh Chai Hwee and his wife Tey Be Yok can now look forward to a better Chinese New Year, thanks to donations from three well wishes.

The impoverished couple said throughout the years, Chinese New Year was just like any other day as they did not have anything to look forward too.

“We have no children. We only have each other.

“Usually for the reunion dinner, we have a meal with my wife’s sister’s family,” Loh, 80 said when met at his home in Benut, Pontian.

Loh’s plight came to light recently after Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, who visited the family to provide assistance, was given eggplants and vegetables.

“That was all we had in our home to offer The Queen,” Loh said.

“The Queen came with many officials. This was the first time we met her in person and she spent sometime talking to us and learning about our plight.

“The Queen was so kind to give us a table, chairs and cash donation. Her Majesty also got our home repaired.

“The Queen also agreed to pay for our water and electricity bills,” said Loh, who used to be a fisherman.

He now earns about RM300 each month selling bananas and vegetables to nearby residents.

“On certain days, we only have rice, soy sauce and anchovies for our meals,” he said, adding that his wife has knee pains and cannot stand for too long.

Loh and Tey, 76, were thankful to businessmen S. Suresh, 43, Thomas Saimon, 56, and S.Srikanth, 48, for visiting and giving them groceries and ang pow for Chinese New Year.

“We are grateful for the assistance and hope someone will help us get monthly aid from the welfare department.

“We are getting old and these days my wife’s health is also affected due to joint aches,” he said, adding that his income had also dwindled after his crops were destroyed during the rainy season.

Loh is hoping to start planting vegetables and bananas in the middle of February.

Suresh said he and his friends decided to help the couple after learning about their plight in The Star.

“We wanted to give them some festive cheer,” he said, adding that he would try and visit them each time he is in the area.