17‑Year‑Old Forced to Quit School to Support Parents

A heartbreaking story has emerged after Malaysian philanthropist Uncle Kentang (Kuan Chee Heng) shared how a 17‑year‑old boy approached him for help following his father’s death from cancer. 

The teenager revealed that he had dropped out of school to support his sick parents, spending his earnings on hospital treatments. Despite his efforts, his father passed away, leaving behind an unpaid hospital bill of RM20,000 — which the boy is now being asked to settle.

17‑Year‑Old Forced to Quit School to Support Parents

On top of the debt, the boy and his mother face eviction after falling behind on rent due to mounting medical expenses. 

He told Uncle Kentang that a large NGO had asked him to wait three weeks before deciding on assistance, leaving him desperate. He pleaded for help to cover funeral costs, which amounted to RM9,400 for a coffin, burial arrangements, and a niche in the columbarium.

In another post, Uncle Kentang shared that the boy even asked if he could use his late father’s MySARA balance of RM70 to buy food. 

Uncle Kentang encouraged him to do so, assuring that compassion would prevail. He has since appealed to the public for donations to help the family, hoping to raise RM9,400 to ease their burden.