Kindergarten teacher declines financial aid from Sabah UiTM alumni and State minister Masidi Manjun
KOTA KINABALU: Kindergarten teacher Connie Wong, a Buddhist who adopted five Muslim kids, has politely declined an offer of financial aid extended to her by the Sabah Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) alumni as well as Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun.
The offer was made by the university at a recent Hari Raya open house that Wong and her five kids, aged 11 to 20, were invited to.
Admitting that life with five school-going children was a little financially rough on her sometimes, Wong still said she could manage because she was “so happy with her children”.
Quietly living her 1Malaysia life for the last 20 years when she adopted her first Muslim child, Wong, 59 sells fruits at a neighbouring market over the weekends and collects recyclable items for sale to supplement her modest income, said Sin Chew Daily in a report.
Her first child came to her as a two-day-old baby, who Wong agreed to foster but chose to adopt instead after the baby’s distraught mother came a week later to say she did not want the baby anymore.
Two years later, Wong adopted her second baby after her sister’s neighbour wanted to put him up for adoption. Her third child came when a single mother, whose husband had passed away, could not afford to look after him.
Her fourth son was brought to her by a woman whose tenant had left the baby and disappeared while her youngest son was found at a rubbish site near the family’s grocery store.
Ever vigilant that her kids fulfil their religious obligations, Wong ensures they attend Islamic classes and Friday prayers without fail. She also takes it upon herself to cook special meals for them during the fasting month.