Help at hand for super mum

It was a superb show of generosity for a super mum.

Last Monday, The New Paper published a front-page report on Madam Seah Yu Ping, a single mother who takes on three jobs, sleeps just two hours a day and eats mainly instant noodles to support her family.

The 46-year-old divorcee has a 15-year-old son and also has to take care of her elderly parents, her brother, his wife and their child.

Since then, scores of readers moved by her story have come forward to offer all kinds of help.

Madam Seah has had a job offer, others want to donate money, and even more readers want to give her computers.

That is because her only son, Malcolm Teo, a Secondary 3 student at Naval Base Secondary School, does not have a computer.

Security consultant Kamlesh Ramchand e-mailed TNP, offering the family a new laptop and printer.

He said: "I was touched greatly by the story. I truly admire people who take the effort to help themselves. I just hope my donation would push them in the right direction."

The 36-year-old and his daughter, Tanya, met Madam Seah and Malcolm last Friday to hand them the new laptop and printer.

DONATION

In the same vein, Dr Friedrich Wu, who is with Nanyang Technology University, will donate a sum of money to the family to help with Malcolm's education.

He said: "I was very moved by Madam Seah's sacrifice and the bond between mother and son."

Miss Malar, the marketing manager of Brinda's Restaurant, wants to offer Madam Seah a job.

She said: "Her generosity and perseverance in life is admirable. She's selfless and I hope to help improve her family's situation."

Though matters are still being discussed between the restaurant and Madam Seah, Miss Malar hopes to help the family in any way she can.

Madam Seah juggles between working as a newspaper distributor, a flier distributor and a call centre telephone operator.

When Malcolm also mentioned to TNP that he likes Godzilla, we contacted Warner Bros Singapore and the organisation gave the family 10 tickets to watch the movie in a cinema.

Malcolm told TNP: "I can't remember the last time I went to the movies. The generosity of Singaporeans is just so overwhelming."

Madam Seah said that before the TNP report was published, she had already received help from, among others, her MP, Associate Professor Mohammad Faishal Ibrahim, and the principal and teachers of Naval Base Secondary School.

On TNP readers' generosity, she said: "I'm speechless. I'm extremely shocked and touched. I don't know how to thank the people who have come forward to help my family."

This article was first published on May 26, 2014.
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