The people who were barely making ends meet even before the Movement Control Order (MCO), are now struggling to carry on with their day-to-day lives because they are unable to go out and make money.
Emilia, a 47-year-old woman collects scrap metal and used things to make a living even before the MCO had started. This hardworking mother of two explains that her family was already struggling because Emilia only makes RM15 a day after she had sold the scrap metals.
“I will ride my three-wheeled motorcycle around Sering to find scrap metals and used items in garbage bins. I will then bring my findings back home to choose and decide what to sell to the scrap metal shop,” said Emilia via Harian Metro.
According to Harian Metro, Emilia and her family lives under the Housing Assistance Programme (PPRT) that is developed to help out the poor. Emilia and her family resides in Kampung Tok Ku, Sering, Kota Bharu.
After the MCO started, Emilia could not go out and continue her daily task of collecting scrap metals as movements have been restricted under the government authorised order.
“When people were prohibited from going out during MCO, I was afraid to go out and find for scrap metal because I feared of getting caught,” said Emilia.
Prior to MCO, Emilia received visits from the Youth’s Society of Kampung Pulau Melaka, Kota Bharu and the society provided her family with basic food necessities.
When speaking to Harian Metro, Emilia revealed that her oldest son aged 20 has been paralysed for three years now due to nerve related cause. Whereas, her husband, 48-years-old suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. He takes care of their oldest son and their 12-year-old son while she goes out looking for scrap metals.
“Usually for breakfast we just eat biscuits or pancake (lempeng) to fill our stomachs. But for my son who is disabled, his food can’t be limited because he is already too thin,” Emilia said.
Emilia explained that they will eat rice one or twice every day but it depends on the food stock that they have. The mother’s worries doesn’t only stop there. Her 20-year-old son also needs medications and diapers which cost a lot of money. Emilia revealed that she is lost on how to figure out to get the money for her son’s needs.
Currently, Emilia and her family are depending on kind gestures from neighbours and relatives who are donating food supplies, to make ends meet. Emilia’s struggles are truly heartbreaking to hear but this hardworking mother never gives up in spite of the circumstances that she is in.
Here’s a video that shows more on Emilia’s living conditions:
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Also read: Hardworking 72yo Seremban Grandma Refuses Help During MCO, Despite Only Selling Snacks To Survive
