“I want to change people’s perspective that even 19-year olds can work too. I have no SPM and I’m 19 years old. I’m working 2 jobs to support my parents because we’re a poor family.
I was given the amanah (responsibility) to look after my family. What I earn with my salary, I guess it’s okay. But one job is not enough.
My mother does not know I’m working as a Foodpanda rider. Although I have another job at a shop selling handphones, I’m thinking of quitting it because I’m a little uncomfortable with previous cases where the staff in the shop had caused some problems.
The whole family from my mother’s side got a bad reputation because they knew I always go out at night. My mother did scold me but none of them knew I was working and therefore earning money.
They said, “Oh, Haiqal tu liar” (Oh, Haiqal is a wild one). But I’m not the type to show off what I was doing. Every time I received my salary, I’ll give my mother some money. “Nah, mak. Duit keras untuk mak” (Here, mom. It’s your pocket money).
During the day, my mother works as an author for lawmaking books. During the night, she bakes and sells cakes. My father is currently undergoing blood dialysis and he’s also working by himself. I also have an older brother who is OKU (Orang Kelainan Upaya/People with Different Abilities). But he’s working as a promoter.
I have to set an example for my other siblings, as told by my mother. All my aunties’ daughters looked upon my brother and I because we’re the only ones who are working. I also have three younger siblings. All of them are below the age of 14.
I think one of the most special gifts I gave to my parents were paying off for my mother’s car. I asked my father to keep it a secret because I wanted to volunteer and pay for the car instead. I paid for RM400 every month and once I thought ‘Oh, I should buy her a new car’. But for her, as long as the car holds up, she said she’ll continue using it.
My father is actually my stepfather. My biological father passed away when I was four years old. Now, I could only look at his old photos. Although my brother and I aren’t close with our stepfather, if there’s a problem, we could still sit down and discuss together. It’s just that my stepfather and I don’t really get along with each other at times.
If I want to marry someday, I hope to achieve two things. One, to have my own wealth and property and two, I want to give my family a more comfortable life to live.
For my 2020 resolution, I want to prove that young people can start working earlier in their lives. They see us 19, 20-year-old like those teenagers on Instagram having fun. But no, that’s untrue.
My friends once told me after I returned from work, “Jangan berlagak jadi manusia” (Don’t be so arrogant). I spent too much time working, instead of hanging out with them. But I knew if I join in, I would be like them.
I think people need to stop judging others from the outside. Focus more on what’s inside. Choose quality over quantity when it comes to choosing friends. I used to trust my friends more than my family, and that backfired at me.”
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
