Daily News

KOTA BARU: Life has been a struggle all this while for a fisherman, his office cleaner wife and their four children.

Things have been so difficult that Nik Mohd Kamal Husin has not paid the RM90 monthly rent for his dilapidated wooden house for about a year.



But life is looking better now after the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination results were released last week.

His eldest child, Nik Nur Madihah, 18, emerged as the top student in the country, scoring 19 1As and one 2A.

Since then, his house in Kampung Parang Puting in Pengkalan Chepa here has seen a steady stream of visitors bearing gifts and promises.
Visitors to his house yesterday included Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Pengkalan Chepa Umno division chief Dali Hussin and officers from the Kelantan Federal Development Department (JPP), Kota Baru Welfare Department, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan and State Economic Development Corporation (PKINK).

Nik Aziz, who donated RM5,000 to the family, also announced that the state government would give the family a new house in Taman Kurnia Jaya, Pengkalan Chepa, which is being constructed by a subsidiary of PKINK.

Dali handed a personal donation of RM1,000 and promised that the JPP would look into the house rent under its urban poor programme.

Nik Mohd Kamal, who was overwhelmed by the visits, said Nik Nur Madihah, a student at Maahad Muhammadi (Perempuan), had received scholarship and loan offers from Mara, Bank Negara and Petronas.

He said Nik Nur Madihah would be going for an interview for the Bank Negara scholarship on Thursday.

"My family is grateful for the assistance and gifts. We will consider all the scholarship offers and pick the best."

Nik Nur Madihah's siblings are also good in their studies.

Nik Mohd Saifullah, 16, a student of SM Teknik in Bachok, scored 5As and 3Bs in his Penilaian Menengah Rendah examination, while younger brother Nik Mohd Fajarul Syawal scored 5As in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah examination and is now studying in Salak Tinggi, Selangor under a Permodalan Nasional Berhad sponsorship.

The youngest, Nik Nur Ain Amirah, is in Year Five.