House for late Sabah footballer’s family
Published on: Friday, February 23, 2024
By: Lagatah Toyos
Jumiati (centre) receiving the house key from Madius and Lo.
TAWAU: The hope of the family of a former Sabah goalkeeper for a new more comfortable home has been fulfilled under Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd’s (SESB) Bantuan Mesra Rakyat (BMR) programme.
The late Saharan Kening was selected as a BMR recipient but died more than a year ago due to diabetes.Saharan used to play for the 1969 Sabah Burnley Cup team with football legend Datuk James Wong, the prolific goalscorer.
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The house worth RM75,000 was built in Kampung Bombalai, Sungai Imam, here, and was handed over to Saharan’s younger sister, Jumiati Kening, 65, who cared for him for five years despite living with her husband Trisno Pehang, 68, and six children.
“The late Saharan had both legs amputated due to diabetes, and when someone came forward to help, I told them to help my brother first, who lived in the hut next to our house,” she said, on Thursday.
She appreciated the help from SESB and the Merotai Community Development Leader Unit (UPPM) in realising his late brother’s dream, who also used to work as a log lorry driver.
“I am grateful for this help as we can finally stay in a more comfortable home, as well as facilitate the movement of one of my children who is disabled.”
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The house key handover was officiated by Tawau Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Lo Su Fui, witnessed by SESB Chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau and SESB Chief Executive Officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar. Madius said SESB is committed to giving back to the community and the country by implementing various corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes and activities and providing quality as well as reliable electricity supply services.
“This BMR project was launched in 2020 to repair, build new and finance the construction of houses for the needy, such as the disabled, single mothers, the elderly and poor residents with Asnaf status,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Mohd Yaakob said the house, measuring 6 metres by 10 metres, took four months to build.
The recipients also received donations of essential home furnishings such as mattresses, gas canisters, curtains, tables and dining chairs.
He said SESB has allocated approximately RM500,000 to implement seven BMR projects in Tambunan, Tuaran, Ranau, Kundasang, Tawau, Kinabatangan and Kimanis.
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