In an ideal world, children would be spared from the burdens that come with adulthood, and are allowed to enjoy their childhood and young adolescence without a care in the world. Unfortunately in the case of families who have to scrimp and save to survive, some of these young boys and girls may be left with no choice but to help out their parents wherever they can to support their families.
A 16-year-old boy has recently caught the attention of local social media users after his story of grit and determination was brought to the fore by local YouTube content creator FS Channel. At 16-years-old, Ilham cuts a familiar figure standing outside the steps leading towards the Setiawangsa LRT station, where he operates a small stall selling packets of nasi lemak and banana-leaf wrapped pulut panggang for only RM1 a piece.
16-year-old M’sian boy sells nasi lemak and pulut panggang to help support his family
In speaking with Ilham, the team behind FS Channel learned that he has been manning this humble business since he was only 10-years-old, and began selling his mother’s cooking as a means to help with rent while alleviating their family’s financial burden. According to the teenager, he would use to bring with him 50 to 60 packets of nasi lemak to be sold, but had to gradually reduce the amount to 25 or 30, due to a lack of sales.
As for the pulut panggang, which consists of a dried shrimp filling and glutinous rice packed in banana leaf, his mother could only make them in limited quantities owing to how difficult they are to make. In fact, Ilham said that preparing the filling alone could take upwards of four hours.
Aspires to work with PETRONAS when he grows up
However, the host of the channel remarks that the flavours of the pulut panggang are perfectly balanced, and the amount of filling in them is especially generous given the fact that they only cost RM1 a piece.
And despite standing for hours on end to man the stall, Ilham said that he has never once asked for any cut of the profits from his mother, and said that he was happy to help take some of the weight of keeping their family abreast off from her shoulders.
Thankfully, the young boy says that his teachers have been especially generous and have supported their small enterprise by helping them spread the word among his school’s faculty, which has brought in some business. As for his aspirations in the future, Ilham told the crew that he was keen on becoming an officer with national gas and petroleum company PETRONAS.
Moved by the teenaged boy’s plight and circumstances, members of the YouTube channel proceeded to buy the remainder of Ilham’s food, which amounted to RM97, before gifting him with RM600 in cash as a means of financial aid for his family.
Those keen to pay his stall a visit can find Ilham outside the Setiawangsa LRT station from 4.30pm onwards, every Monday to Friday.
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