Nur Hidayah, 53, has been struggling to find work to send money to her three young sons in Kuching, Sarawak, and to service her loan from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM).

In the daytime, she goes out to earn as much as she can – even a few ringgit is a “bonus” during the movement control order period – and after toiling the entire day, she returns to her “home” where a thin mattress is about her only “prized” possession.

Her plight has since caught the attention of FMT readers, who immediately rallied to her help.

Among them was 60-year-old retiree Teoh Yen See, who said she felt “extremely sad” reading about what Nur Hidayah has to go through daily.

“After reading about her, I feel I can give her a second chance,” Teoh told FMT.

“She now walks up four flights to deliver gas tanks to residents. I know her problem, it is touching.”

Nur Hidayah, a Muslim convert, has been cheated several times over by unscrupulous people and had to put up with employers who refused to pay her.

The business she set up at Chow Kit failed. People came, took her goods, but never paid her a sen, she said.

Teoh said her Indonesian helper’s contract expires on May 20 and she was looking for another helper when she read FMT’s article published this morning.

She said it will be a win-win situation for both of them as Hidayah would not have to worry about accommodation, food, utility bills and a monthly salary while she gets someone who could look after her child with disabilities.

“If Nur Hidayah says yes to my offer, we would be helping each other,” she added.

Teoh is willing to hire her immediately.

When contacted, Nur Hidayah expressed gratitude over the offer.”Insyallah, I will be contacting Teoh soon,” she said.

Other generous Malaysians have also contacted FMT to offer financial assistance to Nur Hidayah.