IPOH: A mother and her son living among garbage piles at the Taman Silibin flat here will be relocated to an institution under the Perak Welfare Department immediately.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said this was to ensure that the responsible agency could properly monitor their condition and health, especially that of the elderly woman.
Saarani added that the department would also temporarily house the son in Anjung Singgah, managed by Yayasan Kebajikan Negara, for the same purpose.
The menteri besar has urged the relevant agency to assess whether additional support is required for a man with a documented history of mental illness.
Despite the recommendation for the son to be placed in Anjung Singgah, Saarani said the man requested some time before making the transition.
"The son said he wanted to care for several cats in his house, so we didn't insist. Instead, we allowed him to stay there for a while.
"However, I have asked for the condition of this house to be cleaned (of all rubbish and dirt) so that it is suitable for living; that is the most important thing," he told reporters after visiting the family here today.
Yesterday, a local portal reported that the mother and her son had been enduring years of living in a dwelling inundated with waste and filth.
The dire circumstances have led the 46-year-old Erwan Dahari to abandon employment to care for his 77-year-old mother, Miram Kadir, who is in a frail state.
The elderly mother also sleeps without basic amenities such as a mattress, pillow, and blanket. Rainwater penetrates the house through the dilapidated windows and ceilings, further worsening the situation.
Saarani added that the state government would hold a special meeting to ensure that the problems faced by the family could be resolved and given appropriate protection.
"If there is a family that only lives on Welfare Department assistance or Baitulmal, but at the time they have to pay house rent, certainly, the monthly assistance received is not enough," he said.
As such, he requested that the state secretary, Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, chair a special meeting to look into the welfare issue.
"We don't want to point fingers at anyone, but we believe that if it can happen in this flat, there are similar cases in other places," he said.