Melaka:Patricia De Roche, an 82-year-old resident of the Portuguese Settlement, has received a new RM98,000 house under the Tenaga Nasional Berhad's (TNB) Projek Mesra Rakyat programme, just in time for the upcoming Christmas celebration.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Patricia expressed her joy and gratitude upon receiving the new house, which replaces her previous dilapidated wooden home that often became flooded during heavy rains or high tides. She described the new house as a "Christmas gift," providing a more comfortable and safe living space for her and her family.

The handover ceremony was officiated by Kota Melaka member of Parliament Khoo Poay Tiong and attended by TNB Melaka deputy general manager Samsul Harul Anuar. Patricia, who lives with her three children and a grandchild, thanked TNB for their support, stating that she never imagined she would receive a new home at her age.

Khoo Poay Tiong noted that Patricia, one of the e-kasih recipients, also received electrical appliances and furniture worth RM5,000 alongside the new home. The construction of the house began on July 1 and was completed in about two weeks, as part of TNB's corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Khoo further encouraged more corporate companies to assist the government in implementing various welfare projects for the community, highlighting the short approval process for this project, which took only about three months before construction began.