Touched by their plight, PM provides aid to struggling family

GURUN: A video clip of a 15-year-old boy giving his bedridden mother sponge baths, changing her diapers and spoon-feeding her seven times a day has touched the hearts of community leaders and now, the Prime Minister.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was the latest to step in and provide cash aid to the boy’s family here, who are facing severe hardship as both his parents and the eldest sibling are invalids.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, organised a cash donation that was presented to the family through the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU).

His political secretary, Kamil Munim, said the head of the family, Arman Othman, 49, suffered a stroke while his wife, Mazliana Jamaluddin, 39, has been bedridden due to a brain tumour.

Compounding their hardship is the fact that the eldest child has been disabled since birth.

“During my working visit to Kedah today I visited Mazliana’s family and two other families to deliver donations from the Prime Minister,” Kamil said according to Bernama.

“I was informed that she is receiving assistance from the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) and the Social Welfare Department as well.

“We will also look into other forms of assistance to help this family,” he told reporters after the Ziarah Madani programme at the family’s home in Taman Ria Mesra II near here, yesterday.

Also present was Sungai Petani Member of Parliament, Dr Mohammed Taufik Johari.

Leaders and the surrounding community have been coming together to regularly help the family cope, Kamil added.

“Today we presented a cash donation. This is part of the government’s initiative to help the people and we are implementing it without specific allocations,” he said, adding that at the moment, the family urgently needs a hospital bed.

Mohammed Taufik said the Sungai Petani parliamentary service centre will work with the relevant agencies, especially the ICU, to monitor the family’s situation.

“Their children are still schooling and they require assistance as well.

“They also need help with daily necessities, disposable diapers, special milk formula and other things. So, I will monitor their needs every month,” he said.

The couple expressed their deepest gratitude to the Prime Minister and all who have come forward to help them.

“I feel moved, happy and grateful for their care, concern and assistance,” Arman, the father, said.

Mazliana lives with her youngest sister, Norlela Jamaluddin, 30, to make it easier for other extended family members to help out.

Arman lives with their eldest son, Aiman ​​Irfan, 20, while their two other children, Aiman ​​Ikhwan, 15, and Aina Najwa, 10, live with Norlela.

“Aiman ​​Ikhwan’s the main caregiver for his mother, especially after the second operation on Dec 21 last year.

“I work in a factory and take turns with our other siblings to care for her,” she said.

A recent clip on social media showed Aiman ​​Ikhwan taking care of his bedridden mother, giving sponge baths, changing disposable diapers and feeding her the special formula milk she needs seven times a day.