BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 30 2026 — The Merdeka spirit is not only about flying the Jalur Gemilang, but about Malaysians putting humanity first and opening a path for those who need it, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said.
Sim, who is also Bukit Mertajam Member of Parliament, said that spirit was clear in the effort by his two adopted children, Gabriel Ooi and Sandira, to help 17-year-old Nabila return to school after she dropped out when her mother fell ill and the family lost its income.
“Although Ooi and Sandira come from different races and faiths, both still stood together to help Nabila get a chance to continue her education,” Sim said in a Facebook post today.
“Even though they are of different races and religions, they put humanity first and were willing to go to the ground to help Nabila. That is the Merdeka spirit. Malaysians stand together for a shared future.”
Sim said the case began about two weeks ago when Ooi sent him a short WhatsApp message asking for help. At first, he thought the young man needed assistance for himself.
Ooi has completed his studies, while Sandira is still a student at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). The difference in race and religion, Sim said, has not stopped the two from remaining close, like an elder and younger sibling.
Both then looked for a way for Nabila to resume her studies and found a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college in Sik, Kedah, that provides a hostel.
“The hostel solved the main problem facing Nabila and her family, which was the lack of transport to travel to and from college. After getting the consent of Nabila and her family, we registered her at the college and she is scheduled to start next week,” he said.
Nabila has been living with her grandparents since her mother fell ill about four years ago. The family later had to return to their village after the mother lost her source of income.
Prolonged financial hardship caused Nabila to drop out and she was unable to continue her schooling.
Sim said he also asked Nabila’s mother and grandparents for permission to take her in as an adopted daughter, and pledged to cover all her expenses until she completes her studies. He visited the family as well.
Nabila’s grandfather was initially sad at having to be apart from his granddaughter, Sim said, but understood that hostel study was important for her future.
More importantly, he hoped that when Nabila succeeds, she will not only be able to help her own family but also become like his other adopted children.
With the 69th National Day approaching, Sim said the story of Ooi and Sandira showed that patriotism should not be measured only by symbols or ceremonies, but by the willingness of Malaysians to help one another.
“Merdeka is not only about flying the Jalur Gemilang. It is about unity in the hearts of Malaysia’s children, who are ready to stand together for a shared future,” he said.
A brief message — “Jalan Teruih” — that Sim sent to Ooi and Sandira, he added, became the starting point of a new path for Nabila.
— Source: BERNAMA
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