A house that time has forgotten
Kampung Tasik Permai located in Ampang won’t strike someone as being a typical poverty- stricken area. The ridge, about a 15-minute drive away from the Ampang LRT station in Kuala Lumpur, is dotted with modern homes, some with fashionable wooden extensions.
Some houses are clustered together without fences while others have fancy fencing culminating in gates in black with gold-coloured trappings. Many rooftops are studded Astro’s grey satellite dish.
So it comes as a shock to see a grim-looking shack, occupying a 20 by 12 meter wide plot of land, located right smack in the middle of this middle-class neighbourhood.
Kampung Tasik Permai located in Ampang won’t strike someone as being a typical poverty- stricken area. The ridge, about a 15-minute drive away from the Ampang LRT station in Kuala Lumpur, is dotted with modern homes, some with fashionable wooden extensions. 
Some houses are clustered together without fences while others have fancy fencing culminating in gates in black with gold-coloured trappings. Many rooftops are studded with Astro’s grey satellite dish.
So it comes as a shock to see a grim-looking shack, occupying a 20 by 12 meter wide plot of land, located right smack in the middle of this middle-class neighbourhood.
The juxtaposition cannot scream any louder when we see a house located on a small hill next to the shack. This vanilla-shade home looks sturdy and strong complete with plumbing and electricity and even a pet dog.
The shack on the other hand is in an abysmal condition. There are wide gaps between a structure that resembles a roof and also between the planks of wood that make up the walls of the shack. A worn-out maroon saree and other pieces of clothing hang over these gaps in an feeble attempt to cover them.
Rusty zinc pieces hang over the entrance and other parts of the shack. The interior, meanwhile, looks as though there had been a fire there recently. The ground is charred with rotting pieces of garbage and plastic bags strewn all over the floor.
Welcome to the home of L Ayalandum and her mother, G Anjalay, who have stayed there for close to 30 years.
‘Nothing ever happens’
M Aathilakshmi, who lives some 20 meters away from the family, said that the shack was reminiscent of the area three decades ago. “That is how this place used to look like,” said the 58-year-old about the house where time has forgotten.
“Water and electricity only came to this place in 1977. This place used to be knee deep in mud,” she revealed.
The MIC Youth wing had recently stumbled onto this family after a thunderstorm hit the area three weeks ago.
On Dec 13, the movement gave out financial aid to 15 households affected by the storm and also decided to rebuild two houses that were in a dilapidated condition. One of which was Ayalandum’s home.
MIC Youth Ampang division leader K Sathasivan said efforts had previously been made to assist the family.
“The house was in a bad condition even before the storm; the storm just made it worse,” he said.
“We offered to help her but she become more reclusive when expected,” he said, adding that the daughter finally agreed to some assistance after the storm.
Ayalandum (left) claims that many NGOs including the Hindu Sangam, the Selangor Association of Wives of Assemblypersons and Members of Parliament in Selangor (Balqis) and even a local policeman had approached her to extend some assistance.
“They claim that they want to help us and they come and take many photos but nothing ever happens,” said Ayalandam resentfully.
When approached at the house, Ayalandum’s mother cursed the Malaysiakini team. Staying behind the closed door, the woman whom neighbours claim to be blind, was clearly frustrated as she related her dilemma in between enraged curses.
“People come daily with their pens and notebooks. If you want to break the house, just do it,” said the 77-year-old woman.
Family continually harassed
Ayalandum who makes a living of around RM30 to RM40 a day tying flower garlands at various Indian temples also refused to entertain questions when approached.. 
Met at a flower stall in the city center, Andilagam, 46, clearly had enough of media attention. “You journalists come here and get your stories published but we see no change in our lives,” she said.
“People have been constantly bothering us for the past three years. People come promising that they will help us but instead cheat us in return.” She said that people have been stealing even from the little that the family has left.
Tamil dailies had covered the plight of the family two weeks ago and since then she said the family has been continually harassed by neighbours and other organisations.
“Just build us a house and leave us alone,” Ayalandum said.
“We are just irritated that so many people have been bothering us lately. I’ve been coming to work late lately because of all these irritants,” she said as she disappeared to the back of the stall.
Last two photos courtesy of MIC Youth
