Soon Lip Chee: No child should be deprived of education

Three brothers, who stopped schooling at the beginning of this year due to poverty, have resumed their studies.

The three brothers, S. Tharmarhaja, 15, S. Herash, 10, and S. Yoshwin, 8, quit schooling earlier this year.

Tharmarhaja is now resuming his studies in Form Two at SMK Kampung Kastam in Butterworth, while Herash and Yoshwin are now enrolled in year Four and Year Two at SK Bagan Jermal.

Penang state youth and sports committee chairperson Soon Lip Chee, the Bagan Jermal assemblyman, said children should not be deprived of education.

“No matter how poor the family, education is a must for their children.

“Only through proper education can they have a better future and can change their family’s fate.

“As their state elected representative, my office has helped them to resume their studies. And they had already received a letter of offer from the state Education Department last week.

“We also have given them schoolbooks, uniforms, shoes and other necessities to better prepare them for the school session.

“This also includes free online tuition classes to ensure they are not falling behind in their studies.

“And I hope they will not waste this opportunity and will always do their best to excel in their studies,” Soon told a press conference when he visited the three siblings during their school session today.

According to Soon, his service centre also would continue to help the family that is now staying at the PPR Ampang Jajar in Butterworth.

“Their father also has been languishing behind bars for the past four years, awaiting trial completion.

“So, all the responsibility goes to their mother, T Mogana Selvi, 39, as the sole breadwinner for the family.

“Although the family still receives some RM400 monthly aid from the state Welfare Department which is still not enough, we will do our best to help them.

“But, if there are well-wishers who wanted to help the family, they can also get in touch with my service centre,” he said.

Tharmarhaja thanked Soon for helping him and his brothers to return to school.
He also said they are very excited to return to school today after being unable to do so for the past eight months.

“I have been dreaming of this day for a long time.

“Thus, I won’t waste this opportunity and will study hard to fulfil my ambition to become a policeman and help my family,” he said.