#trending: 12-year-old boy in Malaysia saves up pocket money to pay for friend’s S$31 tuition fee

SELANGOR, MALAYSIA — Not wanting to see his friend stop tuition classes over unpaid fees, a 12-year-old boy from Shah Alam in Malaysia took it upon himself to save enough pocket money to help pay them off.

The heart-warming incident was shared by the boy’s father, Mr Nasaie Ismail, in a Facebook post on Aug 22.

He wrote that his son, Yusuf, had asked for RM20 (S$6.25) to add to the RM80 he had managed to save over the past month.

Mr Nasaie explained: “His intention is to pay for his friend’s tuition fees. Last month, he shared that he was sad that a friend had to stop attending afternoon (religious classes) because he cannot afford to pay the fees."

The proud father said that Yusuf had secretly been saving his school pocket money as well as the allowance given by his grandparents and relatives to raise RM80 on his own.

The tuition fee to be paid was RM100 (S$31.25).

Reflecting upon his son’s selfless deed, Mr Nasaie wrote: “Sometimes when we see children behaving this way it makes us realise that we should not measure each child the same way. Especially in terms of academics."

"Not all children have the same abilities. But all children have their own unique characteristics that should be celebrated," he continued.

Facebook users showered Yusuf with praise for his kindness and complimented his parents for inculcating good values in the young boy.

One user wrote: “A beautiful boy with a big heart helping his friend."

Another shared: “Usually it is the influence of parents who are generous and keen to lighten the burdens of the people around them. Congratulations to the mother who gave birth to him."

Mr Nasaie reportedly told Malaysian social news site SAYS that he and his wife have taught their children to remember how their grandparents used to struggle to raise the family and to always remember to help those in need, especially since they are now living a more comfortable life.

His post has garnered more than 1,200 reactions and been shared over 125 times.

Just a few days earlier on Aug 17, another Facebook post showing a pair of primary school students assisting their classmate with special needs also went viral in Malaysia.

A teacher from Sungai Kapit National School, Mr Sylvester Ronny Pulene, had posted photos of two students helping their friend, only identified as “J”, with removing his belt before using the toilet.

Mr Sylvester shared that he was headed to class after recess time when he witnessed the kind act. He explained that “J” is a special needs child who is not able to take care of himself and still wears diapers.

The teacher guessed that perhaps “J” was not wearing one that day.

He wrote: “What makes me proud is that he has many friends in class who care for him. In fact, his friends sometimes help him queue for food (from the Supplementary Food Programme) at the school canteen”.

He proudly shared that the boy’s classmates all look after the boy even though they are only seven years old.

Mr Sylvester’s post received over 19,000 reactions and 10,000 shares.