ARAU: Three blind elderly women were left homeless when their 100-year-old ancestral home in Kampung Titi Besi was destroyed in a blaze on Monday.
In the 4pm incident, Halijah Ibrahim, 78; Che Manai, 73, and Zainah, 67, suffered losses of about RM10,000 when their cash, jewellery, land grant and their Hari Raya clothes were destroyed in the fire started by their nephew.
He was said to be angry after failing to borrow money from his aunt.
"He asked me for RM50. When I said that I did not have the money he became enraged and left the house. I rejected his request because I know he will use it to buy glue (for glue sniffing)
"I had ironed my Hari Raya clothes and put it in the cupboard but fate intervened..." said Che Manai, adding that she had raised her nephew since he was 10 years old.
The story of the three elderly sisters caught the attention of Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man who visited them with Guar Sanji assemblyman Mohd Ridzuan Hashim.
The sisters are now taking shelter at their handicrafts workshop adjacent to their burnt-out home.
Azlan told reporters that the state government would work with the Perlis Islamic and Malay Customs Council to build a new home for them.
Meanwhile, Perlis police chief Datuk Noor Mushar Mohamad said they had arrested the suspect and that he had confessed to committing the deed. -- BERNAMA