A year ago, Hilmi and his family had left Kelantan for Bukit Mertajam with hopes and dreams to build a better life for their family. Instead, fate dealt them a cruel blow. After falling victim to a rental scam, Hilmi, his wife, and their five young children were left with nothing.

With no roof over their heads, seven of them ended up living in an old, worn-out car — surviving day by day, sleeping on thin sheets laid on the ground beside the vehicle. Fearing for his family’s safety if he left them alone while he was away for work, Hilmi was left with no choice but to let go of his job and take on Lalamove jobs instead.

Each time an order came in, the entire family would be packed up into their old car and travel with him, as it was the only way he could continue earning an income while keeping them together and safe.

Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong, posted the inspiring account of how a man he once helped managed to turn his fate around.

Sim provided a year’s worth of rent and helped Hilmi secure a job as a lorry driver.

Today, Hilmi stands confidently at the front door of his own home. The same man once found sitting beside his battered car with his family now greets visitors with a firm smile and renewed self-belief. It marked a powerful contrast to where his family had been just a year earlier.

Inside the modest rented house — now paid for with his own hard-earned income — the family gathers to eat together. His children enjoy their meals freely. A year ago, two pieces of chicken had to be shared among seven people. Today, each child has their own portion. There is tea in a jug, a refrigerator in the kitchen, and a sense of normalcy that once felt impossible.

The house is not luxurious, but it is warm and comfortable. There is a sofa, a dining table, curtains on the windows, and children running around laughing. They no longer sleep in a car with plastic-covered windows.

Hilmi now works as a lorry driver with a stable income that is sufficient to support his family. Though the job often keeps him away from home, it has given the family financial security and independence.

Hilmi’s wife, Yani, beams with joy while carrying their youngest child. The family has grown from seven to eight, with the arrival of their sixth child a few months ago — a new life welcomed into a far more stable home.

The family has bid goodbye to the old blue car once used for shelter

He recently sold the old blue car that once served as their shelter and transport. In its place is a second-hand Proton Waja — not a luxury vehicle, but a practical one, purchased in cash. Determined to move forward without the burden of debt, Hilmi is focused on giving his children a better future than the one he once endured.

Hilmi and his wife did not simply escape hardship — they rose above it with dignity. They did not beg or complain. They worked hard, stayed resilient, and cared for their children with love and responsibility.

Their journey is a reminder that with perseverance, support, and determination, even the hardest chapters can lead to a new beginning.

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