'I couldn't just drive away,' says man who aided family with stranded car

New Straits Times

27-05-2025

KOTA BARU: When 21-year-old Mohamad Shafiq Haiqal Hamid saw two children pushing a stalled car by the roadside just after midnight, something tugged at his conscience.
At first, he drove past, concerned that it might be a ploy by someone with bad intentions.
But the image of a boy and a young girl struggling to push the Perodua Kancil lingered in his mind, and he knew he couldn't just leave them behind.
"At first, I just watched and continued driving because I was worried it could be a ploy by someone with bad intentions.
"But I couldn't bear the thought of the children, so I turned back. I was determined, and I wasn't alone. Plus, the road was busy with vehicles," said Shafiq from Kampung Kedai Buloh here.
He was heading home with two cousins when the incident occurred last Saturday near Pantai Kemayang.
What he found upon returning was a mother and her three children, including a toddler, stranded in the car.
The woman had just finished her small business for the day and was trying to get home. One of her children, an 11-year-old boy, had walked to a petrol station earlier but could only afford RM2 worth of fuel.
"I initially thought it was a battery issue, so we tried using jumper cables to start the car, but it didn't work.
"Then I asked if there was petrol in the tank. When the woman said her son had only managed to fill RM2 worth, my heart sank," he said.
Moved by the family's situation, Shafiq drove to the nearest petrol station to buy more fuel. He also picked up some food for the children before returning.
"I couldn't speak to her for long, but she thanked me before leaving. I felt relieved to have helped, but I regretted not asking for her phone number," he said.
Determined to offer further help, Shafiq turned to the comments section of his now viral TikTok video, which has since garnered over 500,000 views, to track her down.
"Alhamdulillah, I eventually got her number. She was initially hesitant when I said I wanted to visit, but she agreed in the end," he said.
During the visit, Shafiq discovered that the woman was also caring for her husband, who is a person with disabilities following an accident.
"Their situation really touched me. I'm just thankful I could help, even in a small way," he added.