Whose heart wouldn’t be touched when seeing a small child not being picked up by the biological mother who had sent him to the babysitter?
It wasn’t just one or two days, but for a whole month, a four-year-old child named Rayyan has been waiting for his mother’s arrival, which never came.
The babysitter, who only wished to be known as Dayang, said that early last month, she, who lives in Puchong, was contacted by Rayyan’s mother via WhatsApp to request full-time childcare services.
Dayang set a fee of RM800 per month on the condition that Rayyan be taken home at least once a week.
Dayang said that initially, this request was agreed upon.
However, their conversation came to a halt when the single mother asked for the payment to be made at the end of the month, citing that she had just started working as a factory worker.
The babysitter, who has over four years of experience with children, insisted that an upfront payment must be settled first to avoid being scammed.
However, on March 26, the mother contacted her again in a desperate state after her original babysitter rejected her request at the last minute.
Although the mother was unable to make any payment, Dayang still accepted Rayyan on humanitarian grounds.
‘I asked for a minimum payment of RM200 as a starting amount, but she said she couldn’t afford it. Out of pity, I accepted Rayyan without any payment,’ she told Malaysiakini .
Throughout the care period, Dayang claimed that the promised payment was never fully settled.
For a period of about six days, the payment should have amounted to RM500, but only RM100 was given upfront.
Dayang had asked the mother to take her child back if she could not settle the outstanding balance. However, she claimed that the request was ignored.
‘I also offered to send Rayyan home, but the mother failed to provide an address and kept avoiding me,’ she alleged.
After being called out, on April 5, the former nursery teacher said she was contacted by a man who claimed to be Rayyan’s stepfather.
He pleaded for the payment to be reduced.
He then made a payment of RM150, bringing the total to RM250.
The mother then told her that Rayyan’s stepfather would take the child to be handed over to someone else.
According to Dayang, this situation made her worry about Rayyan’s future.
She then made reports to the police, the Social Welfare Department (JKM), and the National Registration Department (JPN).
However, on April 9, Dayang made a resolute decision to take Rayyan in as her adopted child.
'Throughout the time he has been under my care, I have seen for myself that he has lacked attention from his biological mother.
'Rayyan has also grown closer to me and my family and has started to see me as his own mother.
‘From there, a sense of responsibility grew in me to provide him with a more stable and safe life,’ she told Malaysiakini .
Dayang said that initially, Rayyan’s mother did not agree but changed her mind a few hours later.
She is now in the process of handling the official documentation with the JKM and JPN.
During this time, an unexpected bond has begun to form.
Rayyan has grown closer to Dayang and her family.
Rayyan often stays by her side and shows dependence on Dayang as his caregiver at this time.
'My husband understands this situation and supports my decision, especially after seeing Rayyan’s condition.
‘My children have also accepted Rayyan well and treat him like a member of the family,’ said the mother of three.
Dayang also plans to send Rayyan to kindergarten next year and to help treat his speech delay.
Malaysiakini has contacted Rayyan’s biological mother for comment but has yet to receive a response.