HOPE AMIDST HARDSHIP: GOV'T AID SUSTAINS TERENGGANU FAMILY'S FIGHT

KUALA TERENGGANU, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- Mohd Khairul Aswal Ngah enjoyed a comfortable life as an entrepreneur supplying office equipment but unexpected challenges arose, destroying everything he had built and testing his family's resilience.

In 2020, the family faced a major challenge when their youngest son, Sulaiman Akif, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at just one month old. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO)  added to the family's difficulties that same year.

The situation left their lives in turmoil as his business and his wife, Rohidayah Mohamad, 45, had to shut down her catering and pastry business.

Things became even more challenging when his wife was diagnosed with stage five kidney disease in July last year, requiring regular dialysis treatment.

Mohd Khairul Aswal now dedicates most of his time to caring for his family while working as a house-to-house electrical appliance repairman, earning some RM600 monthly.

Due to a lack of stable income, Mohd Khairul Aswal was forced to make tough decisions, selling his vehicles and business equipment one by one to afford medical treatments for his wife and son.

"My wife's treatment costs about RM600 per month. In addition to that, Sulaiman Akif's expenses total nearly RM800, which includes medication, milk, and diapers. I also have to consider the school expenses for my eldest son, Muhammad Aniq Haikal, who is 12 years old," he shared with Bernama when met at his home in Manir, Kuala Terengganu.

Now, a motorcycle is their only mode of transportation to Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) for treatment. Braving the rain and heat during these trips,  Mohd Khairul Aswal is always anxious that his wife or son might suddenly become ill while on the road.

"My wife needs to visit the hospital three times a month, and my son goes twice a month. When we are desperate, I use e-hailing services, but I can’t do it often because we can’t afford it," he said sadly.

Despite facing such challenges, Mohd Khairul Aswal is thankful for the various government aid he has received. These include the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), which he started receiving last year, the Bantuan Awal Persekolahan (BAP) for his son, Muhammad Aniq Haikal, and the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), which he will receive from this year.

He said the STR, received in phases - including RM500 on Jan 21 - is used to cover medical expenses for both his wife and son, as well as to purchase groceries.

Similarly, the SARA aid he began receiving this year also alleviates his financial burden, especially since the aid amount has increased to RM2,100 this year from RM1,200.

Mohd Khairul Aswal also shared the challenge of managing Sulaiman Akif's diet, as his medication has increased his appetite.

"Sulaiman sometimes asks for food as early as 3 am, so we always need enough supplies at home. We must ensure that we have at least rice or bread on hand. Thanks to STR and SARA, Insya Allah, we won't run out of food supplies," he said with a smile.

The BAP aid is a blessing for Muhammad Aniq Haikal, as it helps cover the increasing costs of school supplies.

"Muhammad Aniq Haikal loves sports, particularly football and athletics. Whenever the BAP aid is deposited, I purchase two pairs of track pants for him for the entire year, along with school uniforms and books", Mohd Khairul Aswal said.

He added that the various aid received has been a beacon of hope for his family.

-- BERNAMA