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A single mother in Kuala Lumpur says she is left with no choice but to bring her disabled child along while working as a food delivery rider
Azimah Abd Rahim, 39, said she would rather take the risk of bringing her 8-year-old daughter, Nur Ainul Zahirah Rashidi, with her on the job than place her under the care of others.
According to New Straits Times, she said she had previously tried leaving her daughter, who is blind and autistic, with babysitters, but each attempt reportedly ended in mistreatment.
The experience left her traumatised. Since then, she has been bringing her daughter to work, strapping her to her chest while riding her motorcycle to deliver food, despite stares and comments from the public.
"I often get scolded by customers. They ask, 'What's wrong with you? Don't you love your child?' I just ignore them," she said.
"It's not that I don't want to send her to a babysitter. Every evening when I came home, I saw bruises from her neck down to her feet. When I asked, the babysitter said she had fallen.
"Later, during a hospital appointment, the doctor told me, 'These aren't fall injuries. These are pinch marks.' Ever since then, I've taken care of her myself," she added.
Photos of Azimah carrying Nur Ainul while working as a food delivery rider have previously gone viral on social media
She said she began food delivery work during the COVID-19 lockdown after delays in welfare assistance.
Following her divorce, she was left without a job or savings.
"My ex-husband did give me a monthly allowance, but because of his poor health, it was very little and barely covered anything.
"My expenses aren't just food and shelter. I also need money for her schooling, therapy, and hospital visits," she explained.
In an earlier interview with Utusan Malaysia, Azimah shared that she sends Nur Ainul to the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) at 10am daily for therapy before picking her up at noon and continuing her delivery work until evening.
"Every morning I send Nur Ainul to MAB and start taking orders at 10am before picking her up and resuming work until 6pm.
"I complete about 25 to 30 delivery trips every day. Throughout that time, Nur Ainul is with me," she said.
Azimah currently earns around RM500 to RM700 a month and receives RM600 in zakat assistance
Most of her income goes towards rent, medical appointments, therapy, and essential daily expenses.
Azimah said she is also managing her own mental health condition, having been diagnosed with depression, while trying to make ends meet.
Still, she believes there are others facing greater hardship and does not wish to beg for help.
However, she hopes the government will review aid policies and provide more targeted support for single mothers raising children with disabilities, including housing assistance.
