KUANTAN: Never in her dreams did single mother Neng Ayu Astuty Afandi imagine that she would one day own and drive a car.
Her plight had caught the attention of Semambu assemblyman Chan Chun Kuang several months ago when she sought his assistance to purchase an industrial dough mixer.
Today the 37-year-old received an early Hari Raya gift in the form of a second hand Proton Iswara.
The mother of three who does several jobs for a living said she was surprised when Chan contacted her around noon today, saying that he would come over to hand over the car key.
"Everything seems like a dream and I am emotionally touched. "Owning a car was never in my plans as I did not have a fixed income from my jobs as a kuih seller, food stall helper and part-time delivery rider using a friend's motorcycle....I do not even have a payslip.
"I met YB Chan several months ago to seek help to buy an industrial dough mixer as I required one to mix the ingredients to make kuih.
"I will usually send the homemade kuih to the stalls in the nearby housing areas and deliver them when customers place their bookings.
"I was surprised today when he informed me that he will drop by to send my car and I was almost in tears when he handed me the car key before inviting me to inspect the vehicle," she said when met after receiving the car key at her house at Taman Impianku here today.
Neng said with the car, she would be able to deliver the kuih orders to customers by herself and would no longer need to rely on delivery riders.
"There were past incidents when delivery riders turned up late and I was forced to book e-hailing services to deliver the orders and there were times the orders arrived late to customers, and some even cancelled the order.
"I had no choice since I had no transport and had to rely on others for delivery.
"However, now I can go around to deliver the kuih to the stalls and bookings placed by my customers. "Since I am familiar with the nearby housing areas here, I plan to register as a parcel delivery driver and continue with my other jobs.
"I do not have a house and currently occupy this unit which belongs to a friend with my two schoolgoing children while my eldest son is studying at a university in Kuala Lumpur.
"My children's education has always been my top priority and that is the reason I am working hard.....education is everything," she said.
On Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Neng said she had not done any preparations including buying new clothes for her children aged between 11 and 21 years old.
"Our celebrations have been always simple. There are other expenses for my children's education, including the new school term which just started and I need to save for my son's hostel fees, and his meals in Kuala Lumpur.
"I hope when my children are all grown up they will secure proper jobs and take care of the family so that we can all celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri together," she said.
Meanwhile, Chan said Neng Ayu Astuty had approached him for a dough mixer when he distributed food baskets in the settlement some three months ago but he felt that she required other assistance too.
"If I gave her a mixer it might not help her much as she will be able to produce more kuih but she will have to rely on others to sell it.
"I decided to look for a second-hand car so that she can drive around to deliver the kuih to stalls and it will be easier to meet customers' orders.
"She will no longer need to depend on others to deliver the kuih. My office decided to give her the car and all the documentation process has been completed. She is now the new owner of the car," he said.
