KLANG - A group of teachers in a secondary school in Malaysia are going the extra mile to help one of their students and his family, who have been rendered homeless.

With the blessings of the school principal, they are reaching out to members of the public to seek help for the unfortunate family.

One of the teachers, Ms Savithiri Varadan, said they had been helping the family of the 13-year-old student since late 2024.

“They became homeless and started living in their car at the end of last year. We raised some funds and tried very hard to get them low-cost housing but failed,” she said.

Ms Savithiri said the family had no choice but to rent a house at RM1,300 (S$394) a month in Puchong, a suburb in the state of Selangor.

Unfortunately, Ms Sanggeetha Shanmugan, 42, and her three children found themselves homeless again after they were ejected from their rented house two weeks ago for not being able to pay the monthly rental.

To make matters worse, Ms Savithiri said Ms Sanggeetha was also facing serious health issues.

“The single mother is a kidney patient and has to go for dialysis three times a week and would carry out her e-hailing business daily, including on the days she has to go for dialysis,’’ said Ms Savithiri.

She said the headmaster and teachers believed they had to help the family in order to keep the boy in school.

When contacted, Ms Sanggeetha said she and her children were once again staying in the family’s old car parked near an R&R area.

“The houseowner locked the house as well as disabled our access card after I could not pay the monthly rental in full,” said Ms Sanggeetha, who has been wearing a pacemaker since 2016.

To make matters worse, the car she was renting for her e-hailing business is under repair and this has affected her source of income.

Currently, her 18-year-old daughter, who is pursuing technical and vocational education and training (TVET), helps out by working in a call centre after classes every day.

Ms Sanggeetha also has a 14-year-old son who is pursuing a course in food and beverage at a skills training centre.

“We try to make the most of what we have although it is getting very difficult by the day.

“But I am able to work and support my family in spite of my health problems and what I desperately need for my family now is a place to stay,” she said.

Meanwhile, non-governmental organisation Community Deve­lop­ment and Integration Initiative director Firoza Burhan commended the school teachers for helping the family instead of looking the other way.

“This is how educators should be – caring and compassionate,” she said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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