DUNGUN: A single mother, struggling to make ends meet, has resorted to using her daughter's National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan to buy essential food supplies and cover basic living expenses.

Zailawati Ismail, 41, from Felda Jerangau, said her family's life took a turn for the worse after her husband, Ramli Mat Rahim, died two years ago when he was struck by a tree branch while carrying out felling work.

The woman, who suffers from chronic endometriosis, said she had no choice but to rely on the PTPTN loan of her eldest daughter, Nur Aina Najiha Ramli, 19, a student at a private college in Kuantan, Pahang, to buy daily necessities and pay for transport to the hospital.

"I haven't been able to do any heavy work since I was diagnosed with chronic endometriosis six years ago. It really limits my movement and physical ability.

"Our family is used to living on a tight budget… most of the time, we just eat rice with soy sauce because we can't afford anything else," she said when contacted on Wednesday (July 9).

The mother of three children, aged between 12 and 19, said her family was currently surviving on RM400 in monthly assistance from the Social Welfare Department.

According to Zailawati, the amount was not enough to cover their daily expenses, especially with two of her children still in school.

"My 16-year-old son, Mohd Aiman Haikal, takes on jobs like mowing lawns and collecting oil palm fruit after school to help with our expenses.

"Recently, my youngest child, Nur Alia Batrisya, 12, broke her left leg after falling while playing netball at school," she said.

Those who wish to extend assistance may contact Zailawati at 013-9332122. – Bernama