The families that are perhaps most affected by the Movement Control Order are those who work paycheque-to-paycheque in order to feed their children. While we may be able to simply head to the grocery store and buy our essentials should our pantry run empty, poor families out of work simply do not have that option.
Such is the case of a family living in Pasir Gudang, Johor, in a heartwrenching story reported by Sinar Harian.
The head of the family of three, 30-year-old Roslan A Aliudins says his wife, 26-year-old Nurul Nisa Irmin, could only afford to have either cooked rice or rice porridge after receiving donations from the Taman Cendana Resident’s Association a few days ago. Originating from Lahad Datu, Sabah, Mr Roslan has been living in Johor for close to 10 years now.
His only source of income is in doing electrical wiring works, which he has not been able to carry out due to the current Movement Control Order.
“Since the MCO started, I haven’t been able to work, despite receiving calls to complete wiring works at houses. At first, I could scrape by with whatever money I have saved up, but after about one week ago, my savings ran out.” he says.
After bringing his financial difficulties to light to the Chairman of the Taman Cendana Resident’s Association, Mr Shamsul Bahrin Ibrahim, his family was given food aid in the ways of rice and sugar.
“For four days, our menu consisted only of eating cooked rice or porridge with sugar, or fried rice.” he adds.
Thankfully however, Mr Roslan is part of the 3,000 recipients of food aid provided by Econsave supermarket to residents of the neighbourhood, donating both fish and vegetables to them. Grateful for the contribution, Mr Roslan hopes that the MCO will be lifted soon, so that he may continue to return to work and provide for his family.
We hope that Mr Roslan and his family will be able to make it through this difficult time together, and continue to persevere despite the circumstances.
Also read: Kind PDRM Officers Buy Food And Milk Powder For Poor Family Who Ran Out of Money During MCO
