First, her eight-year-old daughter was raped, then her husband murdered. Later, she was assaulted, allegedly by thugs. Her life was an unending nightmare.

But thanks to the public who was galvanised into immediate action last year, there is some hope for a new beginning for her and her three school-going children. They now have a new low-cost apartment to move into, purchased with the money collected from the public after her tragic life was highlighted in the press.

The woman's legal counsel, P Uthayakumar, who is also the pro tem secretary-general of Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia (Prim), disclosed this when contacted today.

Thanking those who had donated and helped in the fund-raising, Uthayakumar said MCA through the effort of its public complaints bureau chief Michael Chong had successfully raised RM30,000 while Prim collected RM20,000 from the public.

Today, the Welfare Club of the Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti), chaired by the Prime Minister's wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, donated RM5,400 as one-year rental for the mother.

Political parties such as MIC donated about RM2,000 while DAP paid for the downpayment, first-month rental and utility charges.

"She is staying in rented premises outside Kuala Lumpur waiting to move into her new place," Uthayakumar said, adding that she is unable to move yet as the children need to find a school nearer to the new location.

"Maybe [she can move] come November when the academic session ends," he said, declining to reveal the location to safeguard the woman's safety.

Uthayakumar added that the balance in funds will cover the daily expenses of the family until the mother can work again.

Case pending

The mother was six months pregnant when she was reportedly assaulted and threatened by thugs repeatedly, after she had lodged at least 10 police reports.

Her anguish began when her eight-year-old child was kidnapped and raped on July 12 last year by five gangsters. Two suspects were reportedly apprehended though they have yet to be charged.

Her husband, the sole breadwinner in the family, was murdered on Oct 25 by parang-wielding assailants.

On Nov 23, the woman filed a lawsuit against the police for failing to protect her and her family from repeated harassment by gangsters. She is also claiming special damages amounting to RM450,000. The case is still with the Attorney-General's Chambers.