Education fund set up for siblings of two who died of rabies

Timely aid: Jumaani (third from right) presenting the donation to Ik Pahon at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Kuching. — Bernama

KUCHING: An education trust fund will be set up to help the remaining four siblings of the brother and sister who succumbed to rabies infection on Tuesday.

The Sarawak government is also looking to build a new house for the grieving family who come from a poor background, said Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik.

Ik Pahon led a delegation from DBNA to receive RM33,000 from Datin Amar Jumaani Tuanku Bujang, the Sarawak chief minister’s wife and president of the Sabati (Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak) at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.

The fund will be used to help the family of Monica Mazlan, six, and Jackson Mazlan, four, of Kampung Paon, Sungai Rimu, Serian.

Part of the donations will be channelled for the education of the remaining four siblings, as well as to repair the current home of the family.

“DBNA has been entrusted to manage this and we are planning to set up an education trust fund for them.

“At the same time, we will work together with the government to build a new home for the family,” Ik Pahon told reporters after the aid presentation yesterday.

He said he had discussed with deputy chief minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas on the house project, as well as the village chief on the proper site for the new home.

He said DBNA would work together with local elected representative and the Education Department to help the siblings to excel in their studies.

“The eldest sibling is in Year 5. With the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination looming next year, it is critical to help the child succeed to enter Form 1. We hope to help this family uplift themselves from poverty,” Ik Pahon said.

The victims’ father, Mazlan Pujan, is an odd-job worker while their mother is a housewife.

Of the RM33,000 donation that was handed to DBNA, RM10,000 was contributed by the Petra Jaya Welfare Association which Jumaani also chairs.

Sabati contributed RM3,000, while the remaining RM20,000 was raised by several concerned individuals.

Ik Pahon said Jumaani personally advised DBNA to manage the education matters for the four siblings.

He added that part of the RM33,000 would be used to connect water and electricity supplies for the new house once completed.

The state would look into building the house, while part of yesterday’s donation would go towards furnishing the interior, he added.