PTPTN will give aid to eight siblings orphaned by Covid-19

 

The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) will be handing aid to eight siblings who were orphaned following the loss of their parents within three days to Covid-19, after their plight caught the attention of the public.

PTPTN chairperson Wan Saiful Wan Jan (above) said the immediate aid will be given through the PTPTN Prihatin team.

“I am saddened to hear about the tragedy that has befallen the eight siblings who were orphaned due to Covid-19. 

"I have instructed PTPTN officers to provide suitable aid today. The PTPTN Prihatan squad will send help immediately. 

"The burden these children have to bear is the responsibility of all of us together and I have approved financial allocation which will be given by a PTPTN officer as soon as possible,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

Wan Saiful said they will also check for other forms of assistance suitable for the eight siblings.

“I understand the oldest child of this family is a polytechnic student whereas the seven younger siblings are still studying. So we will check first what sort of assistance can be matched to them and I think for their future, it will be good for us to give them a Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional (SSPN) account.

“I know the aid will not be able to replace their parents. But together, we pray that this small amount of help will be able to lighten their burden and hopefully these children will be able to get through these tough trials with patience,” the Bersatu information chief added.

On July 20, it was reported that the parents of 19-year-old Nazurah Nabilah Benyajeed passed away from Covid-19.

Her parents, who used to earn a living by hawking banana fritters, left behind Nazurah and her seven younger siblings, aged between four and 18.

All her siblings are still studying, except for the four-year-old. Nazurah is a student at the Mersing Polytechnic College in Johor.

She said her father passed away from Covid-19 on July 16 and two days later on July 18, her mother succumbed to the infectious disease as well. - Mkini