Mum gets a leg-up from the state

In good spirits: Ong (second from right) is all smiles as one of her sons presents her with a flower. Looking on are (from left) Chan, Ling, Johor Baru Social Welfare Department officer Adnan Yassin and Khairin-Nisa.

JOHOR BARU: Michelle Ong spends most of her time managing her newly-started online business selling children’s products after becoming the sole breadwinner for the family following the death of her husband in January.

She has to work hard to provide for her two sons, aged three and six, while saving up as much money as she can before giving birth to her daughter next month.