Sim Lends Helping Hand, Fulfils Holiday Wish Of Family Caring For Child With Cerebral Palsy

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- The plight of a family caring for a child with cerebral palsy, autism and developmental delays has touched Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Steven Sim, prompting him to step in and help ease their burden.

Sim said he had extended RM5,000 in aid to Mohd Shaiful Anuar Samsudin, 40, and his wife, Hasmahani Osman, 40, and agreed to cover the cost of an Ankle-Foot Orthosis (AFO), a special supportive brace costing about RM2,000, for their son, Muhammad Yusuf.

He said seven-year-old Muhammad Yusuf, who has a twin brother, Muhammad Umar, required ongoing medical attention and follow-up treatment.

“Whenever Muhammad Yusuf had a hospital appointment, Hasmahani would take him for treatment. Sometimes, even petrol money was a burden, but they never complained and kept working hard for their children’s future,” he said in a social media post.

The Bukit Mertajam MP said Mohd Shaiful Anuar works as a warehouse assistant at City-Link Express, earning between RM1,700 and RM1,900 a month, while his wife is a full-time housewife caring for their two children.

Sim said the couple sometimes had to borrow money from their siblings to pay for formula milk, diapers and Muhammad Yusuf’s treatment.

He said he learnt about the family’s plight through social media and later met the couple during an outing with their twins at a park.

During the meeting, Sim said he asked the family what they wished for, and Muhammad Umar told him that he wanted to go on holiday to Kuala Lumpur.

“When I asked Kak Hani about her dream, Muhammad Umar suddenly answered, his eyes lighting up, ‘We want to go on holiday to Kuala Lumpur.’ I smiled because I knew that little wish could become a special memory for them,” he said.

Sim said he promised to make Muhammad Umar’s wish come true by taking the family to Kuala Lumpur for a holiday, where the children could have fun while their parents took a break from their daily routine.

He said the family’s resilience reflected the true spirit of independence, which was not just about celebrating the occasion but also about helping one another in the community.

“Merdeka is not just about flying the flag, but about people lifting each other up and sharing hope. Today, I saw for myself the love, sacrifice and perseverance of this family, and that is the true spirit of Merdeka,” he said.

--BERNAMA