Volunteers reach out to single mum caring for 11 children

MIRI: A single mother here is grateful for the assistance given by many quarters, who are aware of her plight during the prolonged Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

Rajamah Abang Mohamad lives in Kampung Batu Satu in Kuala Baram near here and sells ‘nasi lemak’ and ‘kuih-muih’ (local cakes) to earn her livelihood.

She has 11 children – the oldest is 22, while the youngest is six years old.

“Although I don’t earn much, I always make sure that there’s enough food on the table,” she told The Borneo Post Tuesday.

However, things had been difficult for this mother of 11 since the enforcement of the MCO took effect on March 18 this year, in that she was unable to run her small business during this period.

Her two eldest children also could not go to work due to the MCO.

“However, I’m grateful that the government is very concerned about the needy folk like myself, who have been badly affected by the MCO.

“The government’s financial assistance such as the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) from federal side and the state government’s Sarawakku Sayang special package, has somehow eased things a bit for my family.

“I’m also grateful to the volunteers who have donated to us basic food aid. They have truly brought us a ray of hope. As a mother, there’s nothing more meaningful than to be able to provide enough for my children,” she said.

Last Sunday, Councillor Ariffin Mohamad went to Rajamah’s house to deliver food donated by the public.

In his remarks Ariffin, who is also a law lecturer at Curtin University Malaysia here, expressed his hope for more people to come in as volunteers and donors of this food aid programme meant for the needy families.

“We can’t rely solely on government’s assistance. That’s why there are volunteer groups who come out to assist during the MCO period – we want to make sure that needy families like Rajamah’s would have enough food throughout this difficult time,” he said.