KAPIT: Kapit District Council (KDC) Native Resthouse (RumahTemuai No 1) located at Jalan Selirik here has become the temporary home of seven individuals for various reasons.
Coming from various longhouses, they have stayed at the Native Resthouse for quite a while now.
Their plight came to light on Wednesday when some Rela personnel on patrolling duty discovered their presence and brought the matter to the attention of the Kapit Welfare Department.
Acting fast, Kapit Welfare Officer Dariel Thiong and his assistant welfare officers Azizul Jumli and Shariman Mohd Halfi went over to investigate. During the visit, they provide food aid to the seven needy individuals.
Among the seven individuals were a 23-year-old man Musa Dau from Pakan and his 21-year-old wife Patt Peristiscia Jackson from Julau and their two-year-old boy Maxmelison Dorwin.
They have been staying at the Native Resthouse since the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) on March 18.
Musa and Patt were casual labourers at a construction site nearby the Kapit Police Headquarters.
As of now, the couple are facing a dilemma as they were daily paid and have used up all their savings due to the MCO. The construction site has also closed down.
Another guest at the resthouse is a 39-year-old Martin Jarraw from Rumah Wilfred Guyang, Nanga Jeli, Merit. He has been staying at the resthouse for a long period of time. He is a recipient of the welfare aid after his leg was severely injured in an accident. He had a wife and children but has separated from them.
Another guest is a 44-year-old kidney patient, Johnny Sawing from Rumah Jelaini, Nanga Lesih, Kanowit. He has to go for haemodialysis thrice weekly at Kapit Hospital.
The other guests at the resthouse are a 40-year-old woman identified as Senai Biang from Rumah Lingoh, Sungai Sekeroh, Baleh and her husband David.
David is a cargo barge coolie and is paid RM75 a day. However, he does not work every day.
Kapit District Council has two separate Native Resthouses built next to each other. However, one of them is being used as a temporary quarantine centre for Covid-19.
