Bachelor values old folks home
67-year-old man finds peace staying with ‘extended family’ at centre
Useful boost: The Star Johor Bureau chief Nelson Benjamin presenting a RM30,000 mock cheque from Star Foundation to Ong (fifth from left). Looking on is Datuk Wee (in yellow).
PEKAN NENAS: For 67-year-old Wong Kue Soi (pic), his “extended family” at an old folks home here has brought him peace. It is much better than staying with his own family members.
Wong, who has remained single, explained that his problems started when his brother got married many years ago.
“My sister-in-law used to nag and complain all the time at home. Things at home became worse when I had to stop working due to health reasons three years ago,” he said.
Wong started getting better after he moved into the only old folk’s home in the area – Rumah Orang-Orang Tua Pekan Nenas.
He is happy with his current “family” of 13 other senior citizens aged 62 to 83.
The home received a boost thanks to a RM30,000 contribution from Star Foundation, the charitable arm of Star Media Group Bhd set up in 2004.
The centre’s committee chairman Ong Tuan Chai said the home had been around for about 60 years.
“I think it was an estate quarters previously. So far we are taking care of 14 senior citizens, including an 83-year-old woman. We do not charge them anything,” Ong said.
The woman from Penang has lived in the centre for 36 years.
Ong added that the centre was being run with the help of 13 volunteers, including his committee members.
“We rely purely on public donations and also assistance from Tanjung Piai MP Datuk Wee Jeck Seng.
“Our expenses are mainly utility bills and emergencies such as funeral expenses, which sometimes can cost up to RM6,000,” he said.
He thanked Star Foundation for its generous assistance.
Ong said each person at the home received a RM300 monthly aid from the Welfare Department which they used for their own expenses.
Wee, who witnessed the handing over of the mock cheque to the home, thanked Star Media Group and Star Foundation chairman Datuk Fu Ah Kiow for providing assistance to the home.
Wee has been helping the home since his time as the assemblyman for Pekan Nenas.
He also provides meals for the senior citizens during Chinese New Year each year.
