KUALA TERENGGANU: Life goes on for autistic student Muhammad Danial Zainuddin, 22, who must come to grips with his challenging studies and the pressing issues facing his family.
Danial is grieving over the untimely death of his father, the late New Straits Times stringer Zainudin Muhammad, 52, who was the sole bread-winner of his family.
According to Danial’s mother, Rozina Mohd Ikram, 52, her son has yet to come to terms with losing his father on Jan 1 this year.
“Danial knows how tough it is for the family to go on, especially financially, and is striving to successfully complete his studies so that he can get a job and help us out,” said Rozina.
Danial, the eldest of her three children, is pursing Arabic Studies at the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), in Gong Badak.
Rozina, a homemaker, said she will take to selling local delicacies to meet the family’s expenses, as her two other children are also pursuing studies.
Nurul Diana, 21, is studying pharmacy at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, while Muhammad Dini, 18, is awaiting his Form Five Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results.
Rozina said she finds it difficult visiting Danial at the varsity where he lives, to collect his laundry and check on him weekly.
“Zainuddin used to handle this when he was around. I don’t drive and the university is a long distance away from my home.
“During semester breaks, I have to fetch Danial, as he is not able to fend for himself.
“But somehow, through the help of friends, I am managing,” she said when met at her Jalan Budiman home in Batu Burok.
Members of the Terengganu Press Club (Kawat), led by its president, Ayob Mamat, paid a courtesy call on Rozina and handed some sundries recently.