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GEORGE TOWN: Security guard Ganesh Soundarajah sits in his Proton Saga while his wife feeds their three daughters black coffee and bread in the field near Sepoy Lines Road.
The coffee is made with water from a public toilet, boiled over a portable camping stove, the bread is donated by a supporter and Proton Saga, 30, is what the family of five calls home. For the family’s eight-month-old baby, that car has been at home his entire life.
They have been forced to live in the car for the past eight months after a fire destroyed their home in April. Since then, they have become nomads, going from one public toilet to another where they could at least have access to running water.
Ganesh, 33, his wife and their three children, aged between eight months and six years, have no choice but to live in their car as they cannot afford the deposits for a room or a house, with most asking for RM800. to RM900 in advance.
Ganesh, who earns just RM1,200 as a night watchman at a nearby school, parks his “mobile home” where there is a public toilet, and moves out of the parking lots near Gurney Drive, Polo Ground and Esplanade.
At night, the car is parked outside the school where he works, so he can keep an eye on his family. The Proton car was inherited from his mother.
His wife Parameswari, 32, who only has one name, feeds their children black coffee and when times are better, white bread soaked in coffee or warm water. The bread is donated by the “roti man” that passes by.
The water in the public toilets is heated on an RM30 portable camping stove. On a good day, you can even cook rice with a little salt for seasoning or some instant noodles.
Laundry and daily showers are in the public restrooms and clothes are dried on pavement poles.
Ganesh said their lives were better last year. They rented a kongsi (makeshift accommodation) near Campbell Street market here and he was a truck driver, shipping antique furniture all the way to Johor Bahru from here, earning RM1,700 a month.
Parameswari, an orphan, stayed home taking care of the children. Ganesh, the eldest of three siblings, had separated from his family about five years ago.
However, Ganesh was involved in an accident last year, which left him with a broken left leg. He couldn’t drive trucks like he used to, as he couldn’t climb into tall cabs and move heavy items.
Then he found his current job as a guard at a school. He turned down an offer from the Penang Hindu Association (PHA) to place his family in a cheap hotel, saying that he would rather have them close to him.
Ganesh has applied to the Penang Housing Department for a rental apartment, which would cost RM90 per month. However, the waiting list is very long and you are not likely to receive it soon. You have requested one and are still waiting.
At a press meeting hosted by the PHA today, he didn’t sound optimistic. “When our house caught fire, many came to give food and took photos, like all of you now. Then they all disappeared. All we wanted was a home. Can anyone help please? begged.
Ganesh hopes someone can help him start a small sundries shop, something he has been eager to do for a long time as he transported vegetables and other produce during his truck driving days.
Ganesh’s children, 6-year-old Girthikanesh, 3-year-old Devi Shri, seem to be ignorant of family problems and are happy. They quickly approached the photographers who seduced them with chocolate wafers.
Her youngest daughter, Kirthana Devi, eight months old, was crying and Parameswari said she was not used to crowds. He has lived in the car since he was born.
“I am so happy to see the children eat. I can only cry when the children tell me that I am hungry and have nothing to give, ”Ganesh said.
Those who wish to help them can send a WhatsApp message to the FMT helpline at 0193899839.
