BOY TAKES ON ROLE OF PARENT
12-year-old minds five siblings after mother’s death
UNLIKE other 12-yearold boys, Muhammad Aiman Syazwan Mohd Fouzi has a heavy burden on his shoulders — caring for his five siblings — as their mother was killed in a road crash and their father is in jail.
It has been almost two weeks that the young boy has taken on the role of parent to look after his four sisters and a brother, aged between 2 and 10.
His mother, Nor Amira Sahran, was killed in a crash on April 25 in Ladang Sungai Baru, Kampung
Simen, while on her way home from work at the Rembau Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branch, while his father has been in prison since last year.
Relating his new role in the family, the Year Six pupil of SJK(C) Sin Min in Lubok China said he was caring for Nor Aina Syazwani, 10; Nor Aina Syazlina, 9; Nor Aina Syazlin, 7; Nor Aina Syazliana, 5; and Muhammad Aiman Syazrizal, 2.
Syazwan said he was learning to adapt to his new role as the head of the family.
“My mother’s routine was to prepare breakfast for us before going to work... mother will also pick up Yana (Syazliana) from the kindergarten after her shift and Lin (Syazlin) and Lina (Syazlina) from school at 1.35pm.
“After that, my mother would take me and Wani (Syazwani) in the evening after extra classes in school and would be in the house to take care of Rizal (Syazrizal) before going to work in the evening,” he said at the house of his aunt, Nor Azila Sahran, in Kampung Legong Ulu.
Syazwan said his mother had taught him to look after his siblings in her absence.
“Sometimes, when my mother was not at home, I would cook instant noodles, rice and sausages for my sisters and brother, which my mother had assigned,” he said.
Nor Azila, 38, said she would look after her six nieces and nephews as her own children.
“I have been helping to mind them since they were babies.
“During school holidays, they would stay with me.
“The youngest child is in fact breastfed by me and I consider them as my own children,” said the housewife.
Nor Azila thanked all parties for helping the children.
The public can contribute in aid of the children via Nor Aina Syazwani’s BSN account — 0511741100006833.
The tragic turn of events which befell the six children went viral and it caught the attention of the public.
Negri Sembilan Women’s Affairs, Family and Welfare Committee chairman Nicole Tan Lee Koon said the state Welfare Department, via the Rembau Welfare Office, had presented RM300 to Nor Azila as an initial contribution on Monday.
“The Rembau Welfare Office had handed over Form 18 to the children’s aunt to apply for assistance from June and we have also contacted other partners, such as Perbadanan BaitulMal Negri Sembilan and the state Education Department, for assistance.
“The Welfare Department will monitor the guardian and the children.”