KUCHING: Despite living in poverty, an elderly man continues to work his fingers to the bone just to make sure that there is food on the table for his three grandchildren.
At age 70, Zaimi Eli and his wife Sara have to support their grandchildren by selling food at a stall near Wisma Mahmud building here.
“I’ll rather struggle working hard so that I can raise them to become successful when they grow up although my income is very limited,” he told New Sarawak Tribune when met at a zakat presentation ceremony by Co-op Bank Pertama Kuching today.
“I have five children. My wife and I have to take care of our grandchildren because their parents are busy working,” he added.
Asked on the impact of the movement of control order, Zaimi said he was struggling to keep the grandchildren at home and at the same time he had to soothe his anxiety over the closure of his business.
“The first two months were really tough, but fortunately I managed to provide food for my wife and grandchildren. And as for now, Alhamdulillah, my business is getting back on its feet.”
The former Pos Malaysia officer expressed gratitude for the donation contributed by Co-opbank Pertama Malaysia Bhd (CBP).
“I am very grateful for this assistance. I hope such initiative will continue to be organised to help more poor people like me,” he added.
Earlier, Zaimi and 49 others from the B40 (low income) group received donations from Co-opbank Pertama Kuching branch (CBP Kuching).
CBP chief executive officer Mohd Nor Abdul Razak presented the donations to the recipients comprising students from poor families at SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman and SK Rakyat Tupong.
The donation was part of CBP Kuching’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) programmes to ease the financial burden of the B40 group.
