The problem of people living on hillsides being given less attention by the government needs to be addressed immediately. Many of them have lived there for decades, but some still have not been given ownership of the land by the government and they are finding difficulty in getting help to build a more comfortable home and a safe place to stay.

A dilapidated hillside house on the outskirts of Miri needs help from the government, but no action was taken by the parties concerned until this news came to the attention of Miri PAS.

Rosia Usop is a single mother living with her two sons Azman and Ariz. Their father had passed away about five years ago. They are living in a house which was built by their father more than 15 years ago. They have asked for help from charities to build a new home, but no action has been taken since they are squatting on the land which was cleared by their grandfather.

Their home situation has become extremely severe, where the floor and the veranda are rotting and the roof is leaking. There was an occasion when they fell down the stepladder to the house, which have become slippery.

They complained about this issue to PAS because their attempts to get help from the government have become too difficult and fraught with bureaucracy. They still need help to build a new comfortable home and safe place to stay.

Miri PAS, with the aid of the Khidmat Malaysia NGO, have contributed a little help to repair the floor and the leaking roof and make a new stepladder for her house.

Although PAS failed to win any seats during the last state elections, it does not mean that PAS will stop giving aid and community services to those in need. With a modest budget, PAS continues to provide assistance to the extent possible to those who need help. PAS will be always be on the ground with local communities in order to serve those who need assistance.

We urge the government and representatives who have been elected to diligently go to the ground and meet with the people as they had done during campaigning time. They have allocations and allowances as elected representatives and they should come and help the people who need their services. Their promises during the campaign should be fulfilled, and what they should not do is to be hard to meet after winning the elections.

We also urge the government and the relevant parties to help Rosia’s family to rebuild their home at a safer place.

It should be the government, which was given the mandate by the people, to perform their duties fairly regardless of race, religion and political affiliation. Cooperation with relevant parties to resolve this issue is greatly appreciated.

JOFRI JARAIEE is Sarawak PAS commissioner-cum-Miri PAS chief.