跨越种族的人间温情

 

不久前，我从中文媒体，阅读到李吉林老先生的窘境。在好奇心的驱使下，约了几位摄影发烧友，前往探望。

 

李吉林的“家”在森州不叻士的一个马来甘榜里。他的家离大路不远，但却要经过一段迷宫似的羊肠小径。如果没有当地善心人士郑振胜先生的指引，我们可能找不到李伯伯的家。

 

李伯伯的“家”面积只有100多方尺，小屋铁皮为顶，塑料布当墙。屋里面左边有一张用蚊帐裹着的单人床，四个床脚各用3块砖升高起来，右边有一张别人弃用的桌子。缺了边的桌面上，放着煮饭用的煤气炉、饭锅和夜里照明的手电。整个家当，一目了然。

 

 房子是建在一位马来朋友的土地上，这里没有水电的供应，倒像是所临时的休息站。李伯伯的简陋房子，也不安全。就在我们到访的那天，天不作美，下起了一场豪雨，刮来一阵大风，竟把屋顶部分锌片吹倒下来，砰的一声，正好坠落在我是跟前。这起突如其来的事故，虽然没有人受伤，却虚惊一场，狼狈不堪！

 

问及身世，李伯伯小时在Cheras长大，曾经在Ulu Beranang、Rantau和吉隆坡住过一段日子。他大部分的时间当割胶工人，也曾在吉隆坡的锡矿当过劳工。

 

李伯伯各有一姐妹。双亲过世后，曾一度和姐姐同住，但却时常被姐夫无理打骂，一气之下而离开，从此再无联系。妹妹自小给人领养，不久也断了亲情。

 

如今李伯伯，孤苦伶仃，孑然一身！

 

今年83岁的李伯伯，曾经住过老人院，呆不到几天就不告而别，他过不惯老人院的生活。如今幸好一位马来地主朋友，允许在甘榜的土地上，盖个简陋的房子居住，勉强有个安身之处。

 

李伯伯是前列腺病患者，须定时到医院复诊，每次都是由马来地主家人亲自载送。李伯伯平时还可以骑摩托车到附近的橡胶园割树胶，赚取一些生活费。刚不久，印裔园主看他年老，怕他跌倒，不让他继续割胶，才停止了工作。

 

为了改善李伯伯的住宿条件，在当地马华郑振胜先生的穿针引线下，已获得该区国会议员，也是我国科学、工艺及革新部长凯里的协助，在旧房子的傍边，重建了一间全新的屋子给他，让他有个比较像样的家。

 

部长、马来地主和当地社会人士，所施于他跨越种族的人间温情和协助，真令人感动！

 

前几天，郑先生捎来几张照片，通知我屋子快建好了。我们之前已经承诺，屋子建好后，会再去探望他老人家，和他一同庆贺新居入伙。

Li, a lonely 83-year-old man could not find a place to stay, fortunately, his long-time Malay friend allows him to build a hat as his home in a Malay Kampung at Pedas, Negeri Sembilan. 

 

He has two sisters, but lost contact since his parents passed away a long time ago. However he is not lonely, his Malay friend treated him like a member of the family. 

 

His dilapidated small hat caught the attention of the Member of Parliament who is building a new brick house with a toilet and bathroom for him. The local State Assemblyman and other community leaders also give their assistance whenever Li needs help.   Together, they created a caring society.

 

Li used to work as a rubber tapper at various places in Negeri Sembilan and Selangor. Now he still occasionally taps rubber trees belonging to an Indian owner to earn some money. He started to have some health problems lately and has to visit the hospital regularly. Other than that he still looks healthy and able to ride a motorcycle to the coffee shop in town.   

  

 30th April 2021