Chew Choon Man Helps Aging Grandfather Raise Grandchildren, Calls for Attention to B40 Family Life Difficulties

(Miri News, 6th) "Childhood should be filled with parental love, but they can only grow up in sadness and loneliness."

 

This was an expression of emotion by Miri MP Chew Choon Man in a social media post, describing the tragic situation faced by a pair of young siblings.

 

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unexpected family tragedy quietly occurred in an unassuming small house—10-year-old brother Betto and 7-year-old sister Jazreel sat at the dining table, waiting for a bowl of instant noodles thoughtfully prepared by their mother, not expecting her to suddenly collapse in the kitchen and permanently lose consciousness.

 

"Mom!" Betto cried out in despair, tightly holding his mother's hand, while the young Jazreel was also alarmed. After three days of rescue efforts, the doctor ultimately declared the mother's death—a harsh reality too heavy for the two young children.

 

Even more heartbreaking was that before the mother's funeral could take place, the father silently left home without warning, as if he had vanished into thin air, leaving behind only an empty wardrobe and two helpless children.

 

At the mother's farewell ceremony, the siblings stood alone in front of the casket, with no relatives to rely on, only the sound of their sobs echoing in the silence.

 

Fortunately, their grandparents—70-year-old grandfather Joseph and grandmother Irene—resolutely took on the responsibility of caring for their grandchildren, loving them as if they were their own children. Although they are elderly and living in poverty, they have never given up.

 

Chew Choon Man pointed out that grandfather Joseph told him that they only need a mere 400 ringgit per month to maintain basic expenses, but even at the age of 70, he still has to rely on physical labor such as repairing roofs and plumbing to make a living. Imagine an elderly person having to climb up and down under the scorching sun every day just to have a meal at home, a truly heart-wrenching reality.

 

"This is not just their story; it is a reflection of many low-income (B40) families," Zhao Junwen said.

 

He promised to help grandfather Joseph find more suitable work and to sponsor the siblings' educational expenses. In addition, he introduced them to the "SARA Plan," allowing them to obtain free basic food assistance at designated grocery stores with their identity cards each month.

 

"The SARA Plan is established by the government with empathy, specifically for the B40 group, particularly families facing the greatest living pressures, hoping to alleviate their burdens, allowing them to at least have a meal, books to study, and the courage to persist in living," he said.

He called on the public, especially those who are able, to pay attention to and assist those around them who need help, making "care" the main theme of society.
 
For more information about the "SARA Plan" or how to assist these families, you can contact the relevant departments or Chew Choon Man's service center.

A photo of Betto, Jazreel, with grandfather Joseph and grandmother Irene.

Photographed during Chew Choon Man's home visit. He promises to assist grandfather Joseph in finding more suitable work and to sponsor the siblings' educational expenses.

Grandfather Joseph taking Betto and Jazreel to designated shops to purchase and receive basic food supplies.