KANGAR: For the past four years, Hashim Yahya has been living in a tree house near a parking lot about 50 metres from the Kuala Perlis ferry terminal.

Hashim proudly welcoming guests to his home just a few days ago.

And he loved every inch of the house, which was built on a petai tree, despite the ramshackle construction of wood plank flooring and old white boards and banners as walls.

His only wish was to spend his twilight years in his tree house after his wife died two years ago. On Wednesday afternoon that dream was shattered when his home was demolished by the Kangar Municipal Council.

The 65-year-old masseur could only sit and watch helplessly as the giant excavator tore down his home.

Hashim, or Pak Mali has five children aged between 18 and 45. He had turned down his children's invitation to live with them, preferring instead the solitude of his abode.
Just a few days ago he had told a reporter of a daily newspaper that he had all he needed at the tree house.

"I have all I need right here. I have a place to sleep. I have friends and I earn money by giving massages and washing dishes at the nearby coffee shop. I am a happy man."

Hashim initially used his tree house as a resting hut when he worked as a fisherman. He would change his clothes and take naps there after returning from sea every afternoon.

Hashim said he did not know what he planned to do next.

"All I wanted was to live in the tree house by myself. Some friends have invited me to stay with them, but I don't know what to do," he said.

Meanwhile, council president Faezan Omar said the tree house was an illegal structure and that Hashim had agreed to vacate it.

Ironically, Hashim's peculiar choice of lodging was never an issue with the local authorities until he was featured in daily tabloid Harian Metro on Wednesday.