KUANTAN, Aug 28 (Sin Chew Daily) — An Indian young man who is earning meager income as a construction worker is looking after his grandmother as well as an aged Chinese neighbor.

Thinagaran, 23, his grandmother M. Kamala, 71 and the old neighbor Ye Shu Wan, 87, live in a rented house at Kupang Buaya here.

Despite his unstable income, the young man insists to take care of the two old people.

Thinagaran said he lost his father since young and had lived with his grandmother and siblings. Ye was a neighbor then.

They shifted to Kupang Buaya while Ye to Haji Ahmad after their wooden houses were demolished.

Thinagaran was looking after the two senior citizens living at two different places.

"Although Ye is not related to me, he cared for me since I was very young. He was the one who taught me some skills and sent me to school. He was like my father.

"Now I let him stay with my grandmother so that it would be easier for me to look after both of them," he said.

Thinagaran, who speaks fluent Cantonese, said he did not see his grandmother and the old Chinese neighbor as a burden to him.

"My grandmother is suffering from asthma. Sometimes she takes medicine from the hospital. Uncle Ye is sill strong at this moment, but he can't walk for a long distance to buy food. It will be better for me to look after both of them," he said.

Thinagaran used to work at a tyre shop. Unfortunately he has been unable to work since he fractured his left leg in a road accident four years ago.

He ended up as an odd job worker at the construction site. His monthly salary of RM2,200 dropped to a daily wage between RM50 and RM60 now.

The grandmother receives RM350 a month from the welfare department and the rent of the house is RM400.

"I do not have enough money this month. I will take on additional jobs," he said.

Meanwhile, Ye is now living alone after his two brothers passed away.

He does not qualify for welfare allowances as he is holding a red identity card.

Ye used to be a construction worker and carpenter when he was younger. Now he is too weak to work and unable to walk.

Kamala used to work as a babysitter. As she is getting older with deteriorating eyesight, she is no longer able to work.

Kamala said she does not care about gossips but wants to care for Ye who is older than her.

Semambu assemblyman Lee Chean Chung's special officer Chan Chun Kuang has paid them a visit after learning about their plight.

Chan said he would help them settle the rent and utility bills.

"The young Indian man and his mother are willing to care for an older Chinese man despite their own financial constraint. I hope more people can come forward to help them," he said.