I believe many Malaysians are touched by the documentary of an undergraduate student shown during the Freedom Film Festival 2019. Had it not been shown, not many people would know of her plight.
Although tertiary students are, generally, expected to work part-time for their daily expenses and education fees, and not solely depending on parents or families, this young lady is an exception. The 22-year-old student from University of Malaya has to work four part-time jobs around 60 hours a week as a survey conductor, a sports masseuse, a bar waitress and a fitness instructor to pay for her own education and the cost of living in the city. She also gets most of her clothes from recycling centres or hand-me-downs from relatives. Poverty, however, has never dampened her spirit.
It is people like her whom we need to help as they know the meaning of going through hard times. I believe there are many other similar cases like her who has to take up multiple jobs while studying. To do my part as the people’s elected representative for Kepong, I urge this lady and others youths alike from Kepong who are still studying in either a public university or college to approach my office. I shall render as much help as possible to those who really deserve it so that they can complete their studies with not much stress and worry over money.
At the same time, generous benefactors who would like to help out as well may contact my office so that we can arrange for some form of scholarships, whether full or partial, to be given to these students.
The last thing we want to see is for these students from poor background to drop out of their studies in order to work full time to ease the financial burden in the family.