DUNGUN: She only had three onions in her kitchen and no money to buy food to feed her four children.
If not for her neighbour, Mardinah Dabe Martin, 35, who provided rice and other essentials, she and her family would have starved.
Her plight came to light after news that two of her school-going children, Muhammad Farish Irsyad Nor Sukaimi, 10, and Nur Farah Insyirah, 12, rummaged a garbage bin at their school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Gong Pasir, to look for food, went viral.
“I was ashamed when friends told me that my children were scavenging for food in their school garbage bin.
“I have to admit that I have no money and was hoping that my children would have their breakfast in school under the school supplementary breakfast programme.
“That is why I wanted them to go to school early so as not to miss the breakfast. If they arrive late, they will be hungry,” said the Muslim convert who was divorced three months ago after 14 years marriage.
She said her two children received food under the programme since January last year.
“I believe they were hungry and they had no money to buy extra food at the school canteen. Sometimes I have to ration food and at times we all go without food for days.
“I cannot do anything and depend a lot from neighbours. I cannot leave home because my two other child Muhammad Irfaezd, seven, and Muhammad Farish Irdyad, six, are hyperactive
“I am also ashamed to talk to neighbours because I do not want them to know about my predicament.
“And I simply cannot leave my children out of my sight,” she said when met at her rented house at Taman Perumaan Rakyat Jaya, Gong Pasir.
While she wanted to work and earn some money, she said it was impossible because her children could not be easily controlled.
“Taking care of them needs a lot of patience,” she added.
She said her neighbours had been very supportive and often provided food.
Mardinah, who is from Ranau, Sabah, said her family wanted her to return to Sabah but she had decided to stay in Dungun.
Her neighbour Zakiah Muda, 47, said all the neighbours sympathised with Mardinah and gave her food and transport to send her two children to school.
“It is a responsibility. We must love our neighbours. We will continue to help her,” she said while hugging Muhammad Farish Irfaezd.
Zakiah believed that three of Mardinah’s children were hyperactive, including the eldest Nur Farah Insyirah.
“As her next door neighbour, I have seen her lock her hyperactive children in the house when she goes to buy some grocery at a shop not far from the house.
“Her children also have problem sleeping. I can hear them play until almost Subuh prayers.
“As a mother, I know how it feels without sufficient sleep,” she added.