BUTTERWORTH: Poverty has forced three brothers from going to school since the beginning of this year.
Their predicament started after their rented house at Jalan Mohd Saad in Bagan Jermal here caught fire in May last year.
They were then asked to vacate the house and were offered a unit at the PPR Ampang Jajar here.
Due to poverty and unavailability of transport, the brothers had to stop schooling altogether.
The brothers — S. Tharmarhaja, 15, S. Herash, 12, and S. Yoshwin, 8, are living with their mother T. Mogana Selvi, 39, and their disabled sister S. Teyanayagi, 13.
Their father has been languishing behind bars for the past four years, awaiting the completion of trial for a suspected kidnapping case.
Met at her house today, a teary-eyed Mogana said she had no choice but to stop her sons from going to school due to the distance between their school and their new rented house.
To compound matters, she said the family were dependent on a RM400 monthly aid from the Welfare Department.
"I want to work but I can't for now as I have to look after my children. My only daughter is suffering from epilepsy and is hyperactive and needs my full attention.
"I felt so bad to stop my boys from going to school but I am at my wit's end. I am lost and don't know what to do.
"My priority now is to ensure I am able to feed my children as they are growing up, even if it means feeding them just white rice and plain curry," she said in between sobs.
She was met during a visit by Bagan Jermal assemblyman Soon Lip Chee and his team, who presented the family with cash and daily essentials, besides a computer and some mattresses. Mogana was in tears as she thanked Soon for the contributions.
"If possible, I need help to ensure that my children go back to school. Once that is settled, I also need help to look for a home-based job to earn some income for my family," she told Soon, who assured her that he would assist in whatever way possible.
Soon also asked the brothers if they wanted to return to school, to which they replied in the affirmative.
Mogana said only Teyanayagi was attending school at PEKTAS Mak Mandin and all arrangements were handled by the school.
She said they used to depend on her husband's income, as a nursery worker, before the latter was arrested.
She said her husband last received a call from a friend asking for financial help before he was nabbed and he has been behind bars since.
Tharmarhaja said he was looking forward to returning to school after missing lessons since the beginning of this year.
"I am supposed to be in Form Two. I miss studying, my teachers and friends. I want to be a detective when I grow up.
"I want to earn a decent living and change my life as well as that of my family," he said, adding that he spent his free time studying.
The eldest of three boys speaks fluent Mandarin as he used to study in a Chinese school in Butterworth during his primary years.
"Of course, I will go back to learning Mandarin if I have the opportunity," he added.
Soon assured Mogana that he would assist the family, starting with helping the children return to school. He said he had contacted the state Education Department and would pursue the matter further.
"I have helped this family before and I will continue helping them. It is important for the children to go back to school to guarantee them a brighter future.
"You (Mogana) don't have to worry. I will do whatever possible to help you," he told Mogana.
Mogana also received monetary aid from two individuals, namely Datuk Tan Peng Aun and Datuk Golden Beh Cheng Siong.