He is unable to work full-time as he has to take care of his wife, Hasnah Abu Hassan, 49, who is bedridden and unable to move the right side of her body.
“I have to use a plaster to keep my wife’s eye open,” he told FMT.
“My wife was 42 years old when she collapsed at home. She was admitted to the emergency unit at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.
“The doctor told me that she had suffered permanent brain damage from the stroke caused by high blood pressure.
“At the time, my youngest child was only three years old while my third child was eight years old. I had to take care of our four children alone,” he said, adding that Hasnah had diabetes and high blood pressure when she was pregnant with their youngest child in 2011.
Azmi works part-time cleaning the mosque and does not earn much. He is unable to find a permanent job because he is preoccupied with looking after his wife and children.
He also farms on vacant land owned by the Perak irrigation and drainage department (JPS), and the harvest is sold to cover their family expenses.
However, JPS Perak has told Azmi to vacate the land.
“We are living hand to mouth and now I can’t farm anymore. I have lost my source of income and my financial situation is very unstable.
“I can’t work full-time because I have to take care of my sick wife as well as shuttle my children to and from school. I can’t afford the school bus fare because it is expensive,” he said with tears in his eyes.
While Azmi is grateful that the home he occupies was passed down to him, he said it was very old and run down.
Azmi said he planned to work on his sister’s land nearby to earn some money, but he did not have the appropriate equipment.
His son Nurizz, who is currently in Form 4 at SM Pasir Putih, said he missed his mother’s love.
“But I accept the fact that I need to be independent. I want to study hard so that I can further my studies and help my family. My father gets no rest because he has to take care of all of us,” he said.
For those who wish to help Azmi, do drop us a WhatsApp message on FMT’s Helpline at 019-389-9839.