By Shuhaida Mohd Said
CHANGLUN, Aug 14 (Bernama) — Age has not stopped three senior citizens here from continuing to serve the country, driven by a strong sense of responsibility towards the community.
For retired teacher Zainol Abidin Mohamad, 68, fondly known as Cikgu Non, his passion for education and the future of the younger generation has driven him to give generously of his own time and resources, including spending tens of thousands of ringgit to help students facing financial difficulties.
He believes every child deserves the opportunity to learn and build a better future, without having to drop out simply because they cannot afford to pay for their education.
“I am happy to see young people succeed. I do whatever I can, such as providing additional Mathematics lessons and offering cash incentives if they achieve excellent results,” he told Bernama here.
Zainol Abidin said he had never sought recognition or financial gain from what he did, but was instead motivated by a sense of responsibility towards the future of the younger generation, whom he regards as an important national asset.
Recalling one of his most memorable experiences, he said he once spent nearly RM40,000 on incentives for students who achieved excellent results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
“Looking back, it is quite a funny story. A teacher asked me to advise students in the weaker classes who kept failing and were even struggling to pass their SPM trial examinations. When I met them, I told them that anyone who scored seven As or more would receive RM3,000 each.
“At the time, I did not think much of it and even forgot what I had said until the SPM results were announced. Thirteen students from the weaker classes achieved excellent results, so I kept my promise and gave each of them RM3,000. They are all now successful in their respective fields,” he said.
Despite the considerable expense, he never regretted it, adding that he was proud to have inspired the students to strive for success and build a better future.
The same spirit is shared by Shoberi Hashim, 70, and his close friend Fadilah Abdullah, 72, who remain active in charitable and volunteer work.
After spending decades serving in the public sector, they chose not to simply settle into retirement, but continued to roll up their sleeves to help the community and manage a shelter for people in need of care and support.
“As long as we still have the strength, we should put it to good use. We are also active with non-governmental organisations, taking part in various community activities and are not afraid to take on tasks that sometimes require considerable time, effort and personal sacrifice,” said Shoberi.
He expressed gratitude for being blessed with good health and still being able to serve the community, even if all he can offer now is the strength he has left.
Fadilah said their commitment to serving others was never about material gain, influence or status.
“We do it voluntarily and do not really think about allowances, we will try to contribute our time and energy for as long as we can,” he said.
He said that as long as they remained in good health, he and his friends would continue to serve the community as a way of expressing their love for the country.
The stories of these three senior citizens carry a special meaning as the country prepares to celebrate National Month. Though their contributions may go unnoticed, every ringgit they give, every moment they devote and every effort they put into helping others forms part of the Malaysia they cherish.
— BERNAMA
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