Elderly man living alone in need of care

Depressed: Foong had contemplated taking his own life, according to NGO volunteers who visited him in Kampung Kemuning, Perak.

SUNGAI SIPUT: In a dilapidated house in Kampung Kemuning, Foong Ngan Cheong would sit idly for hours, just waiting for the day to end.

Looking frail, the 73-year-old is said to have suffered a stroke many years ago and could only partially remember his past.

“I was a former construction worker and used to work in Singapore.

“I have high blood pressure and suffered a stroke, ” he said when met at his home here.

“As I was no longer fit for work, I returned here, ” he said, adding that he used to earn between RM3,000 and RM6,000.

Foong said he has 13 siblings, with most of them in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

“None of them has come back to look for me, ” he said.

A neighbour who declined to be named believes Foong is suffering from depression and senility.

“One day, he walked out from his house completely naked.

“Some of the neighbours here had to wrap him up and take him back to his house, ” the man said.

“He always looks sad, probably due to staying alone for so long, ” he added.

Pertubuhan Peneraju Insan committee member S. Selva Kumar said his non-governmental organisation members here learned about Foong’s predicament about a week ago and are trying to assist him.

“When we visited him, he looked and sounded depressed.

“He said he hadn’t eaten for two days and we are buying him meals daily, ” he said, adding that his NGO is based in Puchong but travels regularly to reach out to needy folk.

“He had even told us that he had contemplated taking his own life.

“We’ve managed to reach out to one of his relatives, who agreed to look after him but according to his neighbours, no one has visited him for a long time, ” he added.

Selva Kumar said they have also contacted the Welfare Department with the hopes that they can send Foong to a welfare home.

“We were told there was no place for now and that they could give him some monthly welfare aid.

“I feel that the money is of no use because he needs people to look after him in a home, ” he said, adding that Foong was also willing to move out from the house.

“We check on him regularly but there’s only so much we can do for him, ” he added.

Those in need of someone to talk to can call Befrienders at 04-281 5161/1108 in Penang, 03-7956 8145 (Klang Valley), 05-547 7933/7955 (Ipoh) or 08-825 5788,016-803 6945 (Kota Kinabalu), or email [e-mail]