At midnight, this 4-year-old still helps her parents earn a living

At midnight, four-year-old Zaim Zazami Ibrahim's daughter still assists her parents in their market stall. At first glance, the scene might appear endearing, with a small child eagerly lending a hand to her parents. However, for Zaim, the image evokes a sense of emotional distress. His young daughter's involvement in the family business is a stark contrast to the experiences of other children, who are tucked away in bed at such an hour.

Zaim, a 42-year-old individual with disabilities, suffers from partial paralysis following a spinal injury sustained in a road accident in 2006. His wife, Kartini Ahmad, also 42, partners him in selling desserts at the TSI Sports Arena Cyberjaya night market and in Lorong Belakang Cyberjaya. The couple shifted their business focus from tailoring to desserts after the former faced challenges due to the pandemic.

Their aspiration is to establish a central kitchen, expand to multiple locations, and eventually provide employment opportunities for others. Despite the difficulties Zaim faces in witnessing his daughter work alongside them, he aspires for the experience to instill valuable life lessons in her. He hopes that her involvement in running the business will teach her resilience, perspective, and gratitude in the future.

Zaim's personal journey is a testament to rebuilding life after adversity. After becoming partially paralyzed, he enrolled at the Industrial Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Bangi in 2007, where meeting other people with disabilities instilled a newfound sense of hope and possibility in his life. It was at the center that he crossed paths with Kartini, and they wed in 2011.

The couple's dessert business has been warmly received by Malaysians, with customers not only purchasing their products but also extending support by donating money and offering assistance to customers visiting their stall. Malaysians are described as kind-hearted in their response to the Zaims' entrepreneurial endeavor.