It pains her that she is far away from them, but the 28-year-old single mother from Kudat, Sabah’s most northern district, has no choice as she tries to earn some much-needed cash for her family.
Having separated from her husband, she is now left to cope on her own to bring up her son and daughter, aged nine and eight respectively. Things have not been easy for her, especially with the current movement restrictions.
Her son lives in Ranau with her in-laws while her daughter is being cared for by her elder sister back in Kudat.
Norafidah had been working in the spa industry in Kuala Lumpur last year but lost her job when the movement control order (MCO) came into force in March. She returned to Sabah and was reunited with her children for a while before having to travel to Penampang on the west coast to attend a reskilling course.
“I miss my children dearly and they constantly look for me but what can I do? I have to look for work to get us money because it is already hard as it is for us now,” she told FMT.
She wished she could be with her children at all times instead of burdening others especially her own family who are having a tough time themselves. Since coming back from KL she has tried her hand at many things including selling items online but not everything has borne fruit.
Norafidah has also completed an aesthetician course but her practical with a local company has been hampered due to the conditional MCO, with the shop closed for the period.
“Besides that, I am taking a post-natal course but this too has been postponed. I am really struggling to earn for my children so if any opportunity arises, I will take it. But I have encountered many stumbling blocks such as the online business,” she said.
While Norafidah is thankful for the little savings she has to buy necessities for her kids, she said that is also running out fast with no income coming in.
“I am also thankful for the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional government aid but that will not last long as I have many commitments,” she said, adding the money given by her ex-husband is solely utilised for her children’s education fees.
“That is why I’m hoping all these movement restrictions and the pandemic will end soon because times are really difficult now.”
Another single mother Chin Yean Lin expressed similar worries after being let go from her housekeeping job at a resort hotel here since last June. The 37-year-old said she has four children aged between 10 and 15 to look after but with no work and steady income, life is becoming more difficult.
The family of five, live in Tuaran near here, and depend solely on welfare assistance, which is an annual payment, and a monthly Socso assistance of RM1,000. They are sharing a flat unit with Chin’s mother who has high blood pressure and her two sisters.
With so many dependents to take care of and bills to pay, Chin, who is also taking a post-natal course, said she has run out of ideas on how to fend for her family.
“I am torn between looking for any job I can now but with the CMCO in place, there will not be many opportunities out there.
“I am really distressed thinking about this as it seems the movement restrictions will still be around for some time because the virus is showing no signs of abating in Sabah,” she said.
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