Three-week closure of park leaves guides at loose end
The two-year-old daughter of late mountain guide Joseph Selungin lighting a candle at an altar. Selungin’s wife, Mdm Rozitah Daimin, said her husband was the sole breadwinner. Photo: Raj Nadarajan
KOTA KINABALU — He was able to take home at least RM900 (S$320) every month as a mountain guide to support his family of six.
But with Kinabalu Park closed for three weeks in the aftermath of last Friday’s earthquake, Mr Jeniey Sius is worried about making ends meet.
Yesterday Malaysia’s Minister of Communication and Multimedia Ahmad Shabery Cheek handed RM50,000 to the Kinabalu Mountain Guides Association chairman Richard Soibi for its 250 mountain guides. The funds were raised from a donation drive for the mountain guides. The Sabah authorities have also been given RM10 million for rehabilitation works.
However, guides and their families TODAY spoke to said it was unclear how or when the funds would be disbursed, and they are concerned about meeting daily expenses.
Mr Jeniey’s wife, Mdm Jurinah Jaimil, said: “I’m worried because he (Mr Jeniey) is only working, we don’t have enough money to buy food for the children.” The couple has four children between three and nine years old. Two are in primary school, while one of them is in kindergarten.
A third of Mr Jeniey’s salary goes to rent, while school fees cost another RM200. The 34-year-old said he is counting on the guides association to help them through this period, adding: “We see the government helping the association.”
Another guide, Mr Jemin Midian, said he would start looking for another job if the park does not re-open in three weeks. “But I only know how to guide tourists; other things … I’m not so sure,” said the 48-year-old, who has six children.
His wife, Mdm Nur Sznie, 29, said: “I feel scared, because I have young kids and don’t know what to do with (everyday needs like) food.”
Mountain guide Joe Endam, 28, who has been in the industry for nine years, said he does not know when the donation would be distributed. “There’s so many of us, and that money is not enough,” he said. However, he was encouraged by the RM10 million injection from the government. “This money can be used to build the trails, build the park,” he said.
Acknowledging the confusion, Mr Richard said the association expects to convene a meeting in the next two to three days for all their guides. “We will then decide to give how much money to each guide,” he said.
Humanitarian organisation Rotary District 3310 said the mountains guides have expressed concerned about the welfare of their families. Mr Philip Chong, the incoming district governor of the organisation, said something “long term” is needed.
“(I’ll) go back and have a community meeting and decide what we can help (with),” he added,
Meanwhile, Mdm Rozitah Daimin, 29, is still grappling with the loss of her husband, Joseph Selungin, a guide who was killed in the earthquake. “My husband was the sole breadwinner. For now, my friends and family are helping me ... but long-term I don’t know,” she said. “I really don’t know what to do, (his death) is sudden.”
Mr Joseph leaves behind a son, Leonell Declan, aged four, and a two-year old daughter, Neacollyne.
Mdm Rozitah understands that she could receive an insurance payout but is uncertain about the amount. “But it won’t be enough (to cover my family’s expenses) for long,” she added. Amanda Lee
