[PHOTOS] School Steps In To Help 3 Siblings Living In Filthy Shophouse With 13 Dogs
The primary school children had to sleep on the floor with animals roaming around.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 21 Sep 2020, 07:14 PM
Three siblings living in a squalid condition have been temporarily sent to a children's home until their parents or guardians can provide them with a better living environment
The siblings - aged nine, 10, and 12 - were living with their uncle in an upper-level shop unit on Lorong Seri Damai Perdana in Kuantan, Pahang, reported The Star.
It is learned that their father works in Kuala Rompin and rarely comes home, while their mother's whereabouts are unknown. She reportedly left three years ago.
Today, 21 September, SJK(C) Taman Tas parent-teacher association (PIBG) chairman Yeoh Kok Bin and Teruntum assemblyman Sim Chon Siang visited the children and made arrangements to send them to a shelter as a temporary measure.
The shophouse was reportedly filled with animal droppings and trash, while clothes were scattered all over the floor
The place is said to have 13 dogs, a civet, a turtle, and a bird that the girls were rearing.
Photos published on Sinar Harian showed a mattress completely covered in faeces.
A foul smell from the animal waste caused the space to be soaked with a stubborn odour.
The three siblings, who are of mixed Orang Asli-Chinese descent, slept on the floor with the animals roaming around.
Yeoh said the school has visited the siblings twice in the past after learning about their living condition
"The girls live with their uncle who is out the whole day and only comes back at night," the PIBG chairman said.
"They eat instant noodles in the afternoon and in the evening, either the eldest sister will cook or their uncle brings home takeaway food."
Sinar Harian reported that their father only gives each of them RM50 per week to support their daily expenses.
Yeoh said the girls do receive help from various parties, but they still often fail to attend school, citing oversleeping as excuses.
He added that their academic performances are bad due to that.
Last month, the school's headmistress visited them and provided them mattresses and pillows.
However, they were quickly destroyed by the dogs.
Meanwhile, Sim said he had to intervene even though the children did not live in his constituency because no one deserves to be living in such a woefully-neglected environment
He made arrangements with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to have the children sent to Rapha Children's Home, located in Taman Indera, Kuantan.
"JKM will give the uncle time to clean up their living place and provide a suitable bedroom for the children or find a new home before they can be allowed to return to live with their family," said Sim.
Pahang JKM director Zulkhairi Zainal Abidin said the arrangement was necessary to safeguard the children's well-being.
