Sabahan fends for six children following hubby's 'disappearance'
Published on: Wednesday, May 18, 2016
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The adage, 'one misfortune brings on another', encapsulates the fate of long-suffering housewife Norhayati Satu.Hers is the story of a mother left alone to fend for herself and six children, apart from the burden of having to shoulder mounting arrears in house rent and utility bills - no thanks to her husband.The family home has neither water nor electricity supplies, due to the arrears.
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Six months ago, steel factory operator Monsis Osman, 40, quarrelled with Norhayati and disappeared without a trace, leaving her to single-handedly see to the children's needs and settle household issues at the family home in Kampung Pertama, Permatang Pauh.Not knowing who to confide in, the 41-year-old was thus, left in a state of confusion."My husband went missing two days after that quarrel and I have been trying to find him, but to no avail. Previously, even if our lives was hard, we still managed to make ends meet and pay for our rent and bills.
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"However, now the family's expenditure depends heavily on the meagre earnings of my eldest son, Mohd Fitri, 17, who works as a shop assistant, earning RM25 a day. His earnings are just enough to sustain our food needs," she said in a recent interview.The couple's children are aged between six and 17. Norhayati is saddled with paying the RM400 monthly house rent and arrears in six months' rent.
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Since last October, the family has not been enjoying water and electricity supplies as Norhayati, from Sabah, has defaulted in payment. She has lived in the state for 19 years.She said the eldest son had to quit school and work to cover the family's expenses as she suffered from pain in the legs and waist.Four of her children who are still schooling are Mohd Azlan, 14, and Siti NorZariah, 13, who are studying at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Hussein Onn; Mohd Mubarak, 11, and Mohd Yusof, nine, who are at Sekolah Kebangsaan Permatang Tok Kandu, are barely able to continue their schooling due to shortage of funds.The family's plight has caught the attention of Permatang Pauh Umno division chief, Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said who has visited them in a move to lessen their burden.For a start, he said the division would settle the arrears in house rent and assist with school expenses, as well as provide assistance for food and cash needed."We will always keep tabs on the well-being of Norhayati's family to ensure her children are not left behind in schooling. I will also try to get a good job for her eldest son so that they can have a more assured livelihood," he added.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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