GEORGETOWN: A family here was forced to feed their baby coffee and warm water while their other two children were given biscuits for two days when they ran out of food and money.
The family was left homeless when their house at Lebuh Carnavon was destroyed in a fire on April 6. Since then, the family have been living in their car and frequent public toilets in the city.
The mother Parameswari, 32, who was pregnant then, had to care for the other two children Girthikanesh, 8, and Devi Shri, 6.
"The third child, Kirthana, was born two weeks after our house burnt down. She is now eight months old, but there were times when we had to feed her coffee and warm water because we had nothing else to give," she said when met at Jalan Sepoy Lines here today.
The father Ganesh, 34, who works as a security guard, said the family usually ate instant noodles or fried dough which they cook using a small stove.
With only RM1,200 salary a month, Ganesh said most of the salary went to the purchase of disposable diapers, car petrol, and car maintenance.
"We can't afford to rent because we are required to come up with deposit, which we don't have. We have made application to rent at People's Housing Programme but we have yet to get a reply.
Ganesh said he did not want to burden his three other siblings as they were also struggling to survive.
Penang Hindu Association president P Murugiah, who visited the family said food aid had been distributed to the family four daysago .
"We will also cover the family's stay at a budget hotel here, until their application is approved," he said.
