By M. SIVANANTHA SHARMA

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Nurhaniza Ahmad, who has been house-bound for the past two years because of her 170kg weight, can now look forward to having piped water in her Kampung Kebun Sireh home at least.

Nashmir Holding Sdn Bhd managing director Kadhar Shah Abdul Razak said he would ensure that Nuhaniza and her daughter Nurbayti Md Dali, 11, need not use water drawn from a man-made well anymore.

"I am surprised to see a family living in a house without piped water in this day and age," he said. "The main water pipe is located just outside her house and her dilapidated home is surrounded by other houses which are in good condition."

"I will talk to the Penang Water Supply Corporation Berhad as soon as possible," he said after visiting the family yesterday.

Kadhar Shah, who also advised Nurhaniza to ensure that her daughter got a good education, said he would help with the expenses until the girl completes her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.

Nurhaniza said she was touched that someone had come forward to help her family, adding that she looked forward to being able to take a bath inside the house.

On Wednesday, she told reporters that she was dependent on Nurbayti, her only daughter, to bathe her and cook for the family.

She had to drag herself around the house because her knees would fail her when she tried to stand up, she said, adding that the family was used to living with bare necessities - they only have a television set, a refrigerator, a radio, a table fan and a motorcycle.

Nurhaniza divorced seven years ago and two years later, she married Abu Bakar Hashim, 50, who had lost a leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 16. He earns about RM700 (S$286) a month as an odd-job worker.