ARAU (Bernama): Three blind elderly women were left homeless when their 100-year-old ancestral home in Kampung Titi Besi was destroyed in a blaze on Monday (June 3).
In the 4pm incident, Halijah Ibrahim, 78; Che Manai, 73; and Zainah, 67; suffered losses of about RM10,000 when their cash, jewellery, land grant and Hari Raya clothes were destroyed in the fire caused by their nephew.
He reportedly set their house on fire because he was angry after failing to borrow money from his aunt.
"He asked me for RM50. When I said I did not have the money he became enraged and left the house.
"I rejected his request because I knew he would use the money to buy glue (for glue sniffing)
"I had ironed my Hari Raya clothes and put it in the cupboard but fate intervened," said Che Manai, adding that she had raised her nephew from when he was 10 years old.
The story caught the attention of Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man, who visited them with Guar Sanji assemblyman Mohd Ridzuan Hashim.
The sisters are now taking shelter at their handicraft workshop adjacent to their burnt-out home.
Azlan told reporters afterwards that the state government would work together with the Perlis Islamic and Malay Customs Council to build a new home for them.
Meanwhile, Perlis police chief Datuk Noor Mushar Mohamad said they had arrested a the suspect and that he had confessed to committing the deed. – Bernama
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