14 women get chance to boost income with new machines
Helping hand: Tan (with glasses) discussing with recipients, including Lau (inset), after presenting the sewing machines to them in Nibong Tebal.
Single mother Lau Gaik Hooi has been sewing clothes for a living after her fisherman husband, Ooi Hee Meng, died in a motorcycle accident in 2004.
The 45-year-old, who has five children aged between 16 and 28, was dealt a second blow when her son, Ooi Boon Lun, 24, was killed in a motorcycle accident last year.
Lau earns between RM300 and RM400 a month, sewing uniforms on contract for a factory.
She also gets RM15 a day helping fishermen in her neighbourhood clean their catch.
Yesterday, she was thrilled after receiving a new sewing machine and embroidery machine worth about RM3,000 from Barisan Nasional Jawi coordinator Tan Cheng Liang at her service centre in Nibong Tebal recently.
"With these two new machines, I can take sewing orders from people in neighbouring areas," she said.
Lau was among 11 single mothers and three women from low-income families who received the machines from Tan under the 1Azam scheme to promote entrepreneurship among poor and single mothers.
Another recipient, Low Gek Noh @ Rosemary, 62, from Taman Bestari, Nibong Tebal, said she used to borrow a relative's sewing machine to sew clothes to earn a living after her husband Ooi Kim San, 60, died of liver cancer in February.
"I hope to use these sewing machines to sew blouses, dresses and curtains to earn a better income to help my daughter, who earns a small salary as a clerk," she said.
A. Catherine, 30, who is also from the same neighbourhood, said her husband G. Lerry Nathan, 34, earned about RM600 as a lorry driver, adding that they have two children, Anthony, five, and Lara Daisy, three.
Another recipient, V. Vijaya, 36, from Ladang Byram, said she and her husband, a labourer, often struggled to make ends meet to take care of their five children aged between nine and 19.
"I hope I can help earn a decent income with these sewing machines to help my husband with some of the family expenses," she said.
Tan hoped the recipients could put the new sewing machines to good use.
She asked them not to sell or give away their machines.
- The Star -
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