Filial M’sian Quits Oil Rig Job & Opens Baking Business to Take Care of Sick Mother

Nothing warms our hearts quite like an outstanding story of filial piety. Azrul Nizam Azali from Kedah decided to put family first, when he quit his job at an oil rig in Terengganu to care for his ill mother. That’s not all; he learned how to bake cakes and biscuits online, and now earns an income generous enough to support his mother’s medical fees!

With his 64-year-old mother Fatimah Ariffin suffering from a kidney disease that had been deteriorating for over three years, Azrul took on the responsibility, as his other siblings could not give her the full-time care she needs. Without a steady job, Azrul improvised and started learning how to bake cakes and biscuits from online tutorials and cooking classes so that he could earn monry. He told Harian Metro,

“Once I learned how to bake, I decided to promote my cake business online, although I was hesitant at first out of fear that I wouldn’t have any customers.”

His hard work has paid off, as he says he now makes enough to fund his mother’s medicine from the local Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB). A quick glance through his baking business social media (Facebook, Instagram) reveals a stunning variety of cakes, cupcakes, kuih and more. From adorable Minions-themed birthday cakes to rose-shaped cupcakes, it’s clear how Azrul got to where he is today, with a loyal customer base.

To top it off, he has converted the lower floor of his house into a medicine storage area that could pass for a mini-clinic. If Son of the Year were a real award, he’d be a shoo-in!

Azrul’s mum is not the only family member he looks after, however. After a devastating fall that occurred while he was hanging up curtains, his fifth brother Azmaruddin who is afflicted with diabetes is now unable to walk. His oldest sister has two young children to care for, and the rest of Azrul’s siblings also have families of their own, save for the youngest sibling who is still in school. This leaves only Azrul, who runs his own business, with the flexibility to be the full-time caretaker of his family.

He says, “My brother is required to go for weekly follow-up treatments at the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital and physiotherapy in Yan Hospital to regain movement in his body.” He issued a plea for help from the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) and Lembaga Zakat of Kedah (LZNK) to ease his financial burdens, which have been further compounded due to his 68-year-old father no longer working.

If you’d like to lend a helping hand, you can drop a line to Azrul Nizam at 017-4264852, or make a direct donation to Maybank no. 152125185346. Every penny counts, so if it’s within your means, do give what you can.

 

Also read: Son Applies For Leave For Mother’s Surgery, Gets Rejected Because “It Wasn’t Serious”