FAMILY RELIES ON NEIGHBOURS TO SURVIVE
No money to buy food for children
SHE only had three onions in her kitchen and no money to buy food to feed her four children. If not for her neighbour, 35-yearold Mardinah Dabe Martin and her family would have starved.
Her plight came to light after news about two of her school-going children — Muhammad Farish Irsyad Nor Sukaimi, 10, and Nur Farah Insyirah, 12 — rummaging a garbage bin at their school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Gong Pasir, for food was published.
“I was ashamed when friends told me that my children were scavenging for food in their school garbage bin,” she said at her rented house in Taman Perumaan Rakyat Jaya, Gong Pasir.
“I have to admit that I have no money. I am hoping that my children can have their breakfast in school under the school supplementary breakfast programme.
“I want them to go to school early so they don’t miss breakfast. If they arrive late, they will be hungry,” said the Muslim convert, who was divorced three months ago after a 14-year marriage.
“I know they are hungry and they have no money to buy food at the school canteen. Sometimes, I have to ration food and at times, we go without food for days.
“I cannot do anything and depend a lot on my neighbours. I cannot leave home because my two other children — Muhammad Irfaezd, 7, and Muhammad Farish Irdyad, 6 — are hyperactive.”
While she wanted to work and earn money, she said it was impossible because her children could not be easily controlled.
Her neighbour, Zakiah Muda, 47, said the neighbours sympathised with Mardinah and gave her food and transport to send her two children to school.
“It is a responsibility. We will continue to help her,” she said.