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.
So Mother’s Day was never on her mind.
But the 33-year-old received a pleasant surprise when two special guests showed up at her doorstep with a cake and flowers on Tuesday night.
They were Johor women, family and committee chairman Khairin-Nisa Ismail, and state health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon.
“We wish to spread some cheer and motivation to the mother and children,” said Khairin-Nisa.
She said the boys are entitled to the monthly financial aid provided by the Social Welfare Department.
“When Ong’s baby is born next month, the child will also receive the same assistance.
“We hope this will help to ease her burden and make her feel supported as she prepares herself for delivery next month,” she added.
Apart from cake and flowers, the guests also presented the family with some goodies and essential items, including cooking oil, flour and noodles, from the state government.
Ong, who has moved to live with her father in Taman Johor Jaya here to save money, said she was immensely touched and grateful for the gesture.
“I did not expect to see representatives from the state government at my house,” she added.
As Ong and the guests were talking, her eldest son gave her a flower and said it was a gift on behalf of his late father, who died in a car accident.
“It’s a surprise. This shows that children, although still young, understand what is going on.
“This has motivated me to keep pushing on and working hard to provide for my family,” she added.
Johor Baru City Council’s Johor Jaya and Taman Rinting zone councillor Chan San San, who was also present, gifted Ong with a set of breast pumps upon her request.
She also offered to give the mother a lift to the hospital next month.
