Teenage boy takes school ‘leave’ to care for young brothers

PADANG SERAI: A 13-year-old boy has asked for “leave” from his school to look after his two younger brothers aged eight years and 17 months.

Muhammad Hafiz Izman Shah was left with no choice after his mother, factory worker Mariam Ibrahim, 39, had to accompany her daughter Nur Izzati, 12, who is suffering from leukaemia and a kidney ailment, at the Selayang Hospital in Selangor over the past six days.

The student of Sekolah Kebangsaan Dato Lela Pahlawan decided to take on the responsibility of being the guardian because his brothers, Muhammad Haikal, eight, and Shaari Shah, 17 months, refused to be under the care of neighbours.

“I can only fry eggs. I do that when my brother (Haikal) complains of hunger at night. I mix milk for Ari (Shaari Shah),” he said.

Muhammad Hafiz said he could only go to sleep at 3am every day because Shaari Shah would keep crying the whole night.

The plight of the siblings came to light after a neighbour found out that Muhammad Hafiz had not been going to school.

Muhammad Hafiz said in the absence of their mother, he and his brothers had been depending on neighbours to provide food for the breaking of fast, besides cooking what he could manage.

A neighbour who wished to remain anonymous said their mother had asked the neighbours to keep an eye on the children during her absence.

Officers from the Kulim Tithe Department, Kulim Social Welfare Department, teachers of SMK Dato Lela Pahlawan and Taman Melati community leaders visited the siblings at their Taman Melati home and provided aid.

Kulim tithe officer Mohd Khairi Ishak said the department would approve a monthly aid for the family soon.

A hotel entrepreneur in Kulim, Ku Rashidi Ku Mat Isa, provided cash aid and foodstuff to the siblings to meet their needs as well as for Aidilfitri next week.

SMK Dato Lela Pahlawan authorities have given Muhammad Hafiz special permission to temporarily stay away from school. — Bernama