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How hard is it to live a hard life?

Nazir Sufari7 years ago8th Jul 2017Pictures
Urban poor photoessay tmi nazirsufari 311
Suriani dries clothes, most of which were donated by the charities, at her house in Taman Batu Muda. Other donations included groceries, diapers and milk formula. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
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BETWEEN them, Suriani Aziera and her husband Mohd Fairus Yusof have six children and a household income of RM1,200 on which to live in Selangor, the richest state in Malaysia.

The housewife and the lorry driver, however, are among the nearly 50,000 urban poor who get assistance from charities and soup kitchens in the Klang Valley to survive. They get RM400 from the zakat or tithes collection managed by the Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS), which distributed RM22.2 million to 46,500 families in 2016, up 2,207 families from the 44,393 families registered as urban poor in 2015.

On top of that, 31-year-old Suriani’s eldest daughter has dropped out of school to look for work and supplement family income as the other children need RM2 a day for school expenses.

The house that shelters the family has been the subject of a dispute among Suriani’s extended family, forcing the couple to apply for a City Hall flat in Kuala Lumpur.

Despite their hard life, Suriani always tells her children how important education is, as she sees it as the only way to get them out of their situation. - July 8, 2017.

Suriani dries clothes, most of which were donated by the charities, at her house in Taman Batu Muda. Other donations included groceries, diapers and milk formula. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Suriani dries clothes, most of which were donated by the charities, at her house in Taman Batu Muda. Other donations included groceries, diapers and milk formula. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Using the only vehicle they have, this family takes a ride all the way from Taman Batu Muda, Gombak, to Chow Kit to attend a Wednesday religious class by a charitable body and to get free meals from the soup kitchens. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Using the only vehicle they have, this family takes a ride all the way from Taman Batu Muda, Gombak, to Chow Kit to attend a Wednesday religious class by a charitable body and to get free meals from the soup kitchens. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Mohd Fairus Yusof, 40, and Suriani Aziera Shahril, 31, with three of their six children. Mohd Yusof is Suriani's second husband. She has a daughter from her first marriage during her teenage years, Dayang Syaheera Airricca Abdullah, 17. Syaheera left school when she was in form 4 to take care of her grandmother who died last year. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Mohd Fairus Yusof, 40, and Suriani Aziera Shahril, 31, with three of their six children. Mohd Yusof is Suriani's second husband. She has a daughter from her first marriage during her teenage years, Dayang Syaheera Airricca Abdullah, 17. Syaheera left school when she was in form 4 to take care of her grandmother who died last year. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Suriani's children outside their house, waiting for their father to return home from work. Muhammad Fahmi Saifullah, 8, is walking down the street, wearing a 'kain sarung'. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Suriani's children outside their house, waiting for their father to return home from work. Muhammad Fahmi Saifullah, 8, is walking down the street, wearing a 'kain sarung'. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Using a smartphone as a torchlight in the dark, Suriani's children take in some fresh air outside their house. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Using a smartphone as a torchlight in the dark, Suriani's children take in some fresh air outside their house. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Siti Norsyakila Nik Hassan, 15, is Suriani's adopted daughter. Norsyakila helps Suriani with household chores and taking care of her adopted siblings. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Siti Norsyakila Nik Hassan, 15, is Suriani's adopted daughter. Norsyakila helps Suriani with household chores and taking care of her adopted siblings. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Every Wednesday night, Suriani and her children go to Chow Kit to attend a religious class given by a charitable body near a main road in Kuala Lumpur, where free tuition is also provided. Living in poverty, Suriani sees education as the only light to lead her children to a brighter future. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Every Wednesday night, Suriani and her children go to Chow Kit to attend a religious class given by a charitable body near a main road in Kuala Lumpur, where free tuition is also provided. Living in poverty, Suriani sees education as the only light to lead her children to a brighter future. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Fateehaa Nur Syazwani, 7, plays with her sister Farhana Dayanie Umairah, 2, in their bedroom. There's a sign of a burn on Farhana's left leg after it came into contact with an exhaust pipe. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Fateehaa Nur Syazwani, 7, plays with her sister Farhana Dayanie Umairah, 2, in their bedroom. There's a sign of a burn on Farhana's left leg after it came into contact with an exhaust pipe. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Noorsyakila (left) helping Syaheera folding clothes in their bedroom. Syaheera, who left school when she was in form 4, is looking for a job as a cashier to ease her parents' financial burden. Syaheera however, still wants to continue her schooling. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Noorsyakila (left) helping Syaheera folding clothes in their bedroom. Syaheera, who left school when she was in form 4, is looking for a job as a cashier to ease her parents' financial burden. Syaheera however, still wants to continue her schooling. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Dirty and in a mess as it may seem, this house is a haven for this big family that shelters inside from the heat and rain. It has, however, been the subject of a dispute between Suriani's extended family for years. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Dirty and in a mess as it may seem, this house is a haven for this big family that shelters inside from the heat and rain. It has, however, been the subject of a dispute between Suriani's extended family for years. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
In this living area, Suriani and her children do most of their activities. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
In this living area, Suriani and her children do most of their activities. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Muhammad Firdaus Syadam, 5, plays with his two kittens outside of the house, while his elder brother Muhammad Fahmi Saifullah, 7, is watching him from behind. The kittens are their best friends. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Muhammad Firdaus Syadam, 5, plays with his two kittens outside of the house, while his elder brother Muhammad Fahmi Saifullah, 7, is watching him from behind. The kittens are their best friends. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
In this living area is where Suriani's children do most of their activities. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
In this living area is where Suriani's children do most of their activities. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Suriani's motorcycle is parked outside their house in Taman Batu Muda. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Suriani's motorcycle is parked outside their house in Taman Batu Muda. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017.
Suriani's children waiting outside of Rumah Transit Gelandangan at Medan Tunku in Chow Kit, after receiving free food and medical check-ups provided by charitable bodies. In the background, the needy and the homeless queue to receive their donations. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017
Suriani's children waiting outside of Rumah Transit Gelandangan at Medan Tunku in Chow Kit, after receiving free food and medical check-ups provided by charitable bodies. In the background, the needy and the homeless queue to receive their donations. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, July 8, 2017
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