Steven Sim steps in to help stroke victim rebuild family home
Nazim, 40, had been working hard to save enough money to renovate their ageing wooden house in Bukit Minyak, where his 76-year-old mother, Mak Embun, lives. The structure had deteriorated significantly over the years, with rotting doors, cracked walls and a leaking roof, posing safety risks to his frail mother.
However, in April, tragedy struck. Nazim suffered a stroke, and his health declined rapidly.
When he was finally discharged from hospital, his sister hesitated to bring him home, fearing that the poor condition of the house would worsen his recovery.
With nowhere else to turn, the family reached out for help, and Sim responded.
Moved by their plight, Sim visited the home and, upon seeing its dire condition, made a decisive decision. He settled the family's existing debt with the contractor and instructed that additional work be expedited to make the house liveable.
"I told the contractor to prioritise the repairs. There wasn't much time.
"Within a week, the home was repaired. Nazim was able to return and spend time with his mother in the comfort of a safe home — something he had long wished for," Sim said in his Facebook post.
Tragically, Nazim passed away just three days later, on June 24.
Sim visited the family to offer his condolences and support.
"His sister told me it had always been Nazim's dream to rebuild the house so their mother could live comfortably. Though it was brief, he fulfilled that dream," Sim said.
To support the family further, Sim ensured that Mak Embun, as Nazim's dependent, would receive a monthly survivor's pension under Perkeso, where Nazim had been a contributor.
He also handed over RM3,000 in funeral aid from the organisation.
Before leaving, Sim instructed his officers to build a new, safer bathroom to ensure Mak Embun would have proper facilities moving forward.
"Even though Nazim is no longer with us, his love for his mother lives on, not only in the home he helped restore, but in the care and support we will continue to provide," he added.
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