Poverty dims Deepavali light for Tanjung Malim family

A small house sits on the side of a dusty road in Tanjung Malim, Perak. Clothes flap on the laundry line outside, and inside, the tiny living room holds several sofas, a prayer altar, and a cabinet with an old television which no longer works.

Few would guess that a house of such slender dimensions, with walls of zinc and rotting wood, is home to a family of nine.

Once upon a time it had three rooms, but one of them was destroyed when a tree fell on it. Now, S Mariamar and her family make do with what little space they have.

Mariamar, 30, has lived in that house since she was born. Today, she has five children of her own who are still of school-going age. Her eldest is 14 while the youngest is just three years old.

Mariamar also takes care of her mother, whose eyesight is failing. The elderly woman also struggles with health problems including diabetes and high blood pressure.

Mariamar's children and another relative sleep on the cracked cement floor in the living room.

The family depends on her and her husband, as well as another relative, S Sivalinggam, to bring home the bacon – but none of them has been able to hold down a permanent job.

Mariamar works as a cleaner but has not been able to do as much as she once did.

"It's hard to find a permanent job here," she said.

"For now, I do what I can cleaning houses but it all depends on demand. There are some months when I cannot find any work at all."

At times, the household has run out of rice and other staples simply because there is no money.

If they are fortunate, the three breadwinners can bring home about RM1,000 a month – but this is not enough to feed all of the waiting mouths.

Sometimes, their neighbour chips in to cover their electricity bill.

Mariamar's husband also works as a cleaner but his high blood pressure makes it next to impossible to hold a steady job. He spends his days cleaning drains, cutting grass, or doing contract work as a labourer.

"We don't have a car or a motorcycle, so if anyone calls me to work, they have to pick me up as well," he said.

Deepavali this year is grim, with nothing more than the daily essentials on the table.

"We used to buy new clothes for the children and kuih, and things to decorate the house. Then we would go to the temple to pray," Mariamar recalled.

"But this year, there will be no celebration as our survival comes first."