KUCHING: As festive music fills the air and families across the city prepare for Lunar New Year celebrations, one household in Matang remains shrouded in grief over the recent loss of a beloved family member.
Chai Khiun, 82, and his wife Liew, 75, are facing their first Chinese New Year without their daughter Siew Kim, who passed away last September due to kidney failure.
The couple’s health struggles compound their grief.
Chai, a dialysis patient, had been receiving support from Hope Place Kuching since 2024.
He was diagnosed with stage two kidney cancer in 2024 and manages his condition through oral medication rather than chemotherapy due to his age.
He also lives with diabetes and mobility issues while Liew suffers from knee problems that affect her ability to walk.
The elderly couple lives with their son Chun Poh, 54, who earns a living by cultivating and selling guava and rose apple with his wife.
The household also includes Xiong, 30, the late Siew Kim’s boyfriend who has been adopted by the family.
Working at a chicken farm, Xiong remained devoted to Siew Kim during her final days and has since grown close to Chai and Liew, treating them as his own parents.
When Hope Place staff visited the home recently, family members were reluctant to discuss Siew Kim’s final days, preferring to keep their feelings private.
The atmosphere remained sombre despite the approaching festivities.
In an effort to bring some seasonal cheer, Hope Place, together with generous donors, provided the family with basic food aid and Chinese New Year goodies.
The organisation thanked supporters for their continued contributions to families like Chai’s and reminded the community that true celebration is about cherishing family and loved ones.
For more information or to make donations, Hope Place (Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching) can be contacted at 082-505987 or 013-5672775.
Donations can be made to Maybank account 511289001160, and receipts are available upon request.
QR codes for Sarawak Pay and S PAY GLOBAL are available on the organization’s Facebook page.
