Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya - Proper accreditation to WeirdKaya and consent from the interviewee are required.
For Kamarzaman bin Ibrahim, life has been a long journey of sacrifice, responsibility, and doing whatever it takes to provide for his family.
Speaking to WeirdKaya, his son, Muhammad Amirul Adam bin Kamarzaman, shared how his father had spent decades putting his family first, even when life forced him to start over from scratch.
From factory supervisor to security guard
According to Amirul, his father first began working for the family at the age of 27. His first job was as a supervisor at a factory, where he worked for 23 years until the factory eventually shut down.
Despite once earning around RM4,000 as a supervisor, Kamarzaman later took up a job as a security guard with a salary of about RM1,200.
“Abah never complained at all. He even brought packed food every day just to make sure the family’s expenses were enough,” Amirul recalled.
For Kamarzaman, it was not just a change of job, but a complete 360-degree turn in life. Yet henever once neglected his duty as the head of the family and continued to provide for his wife and children.
According to the son, his father once worked in parcel delivery despite earning a limited income at the time.
Using a first-generation 2008 Myvi Ezi 1.3, his father would deliver parcels to earn a living.
On weekends, he would also pick coconuts and load them into the car boot and back seat to sell for extra income.
The son shared that he would sometimes help his father too, especially when he needed money for his studies back then.
Although life was not easy, his father always made time for the family.
During that time, his schedule became extremely tight as he often took overtime shifts, making it hard for the family to see him at home.
What broke the son’s heart even more was seeing his father continue wearing the same old pair of shoes to work, even though they were already badly torn.
Despite that, his father never complained.
He would also bring the pink food container packed by his wife to work every day, never once feeling ashamed of what he had.
“Abah was never embarrassed by what he had. That is why I am proud of my father. There is no need to be ashamed of your own heaven,” the son wrote fondly.
Their family once lived comfortably when his father had a gold shop
At one point, the family’s situation improved when his father ran a gold shop.
During that time, he was able to provide for the family and fulfil their needs.
But beyond that, the son said his father was someone who often gave charity quietly.
He would donate in secret, sometimes even using someone else’s name so that people would not know it was from him.
However, the family later faced a major test when his father was allegedly cheated by a customer during a gold transaction.
The incident forced him to leave that chapter behind and find another job to continue supporting the family.
‘I felt helpless’
Growing up, watching his father work hard was not easy for Amirul.
Amirul admitted that it was painful to see his father carrying so much on his shoulders, especially knowing he was unable to help with the family’s financial burden at the time.
“I felt very heartbroken because I couldn’t help Abah support the family. Back then, Abah only told me to focus on studying. He also didn’t allow me to work until I finished my degree,” he said.
One of the sweetest memories Amirul had with his father was the day Kamarzaman found out he had secured a job as an operations officer at Bank Muamalat.
“He was overjoyed by the news. Although he only had around RM120 in his bank account at the time, he withdrew RM100 just to treat the family to a special dinner that night.
“It was a simple meal, but to the family, it carried the weight of a father’s love.”
Afraid
Now that Kamarzaman is battling an illness himself, seeing him in a weaker state has been incredibly difficult for the family.
Amirul said one of the most heartbreaking moments happened when his father was in critical condition and told him, ‘Jangan pergi kemana, abah takut’ (Don’t go anywhere. I’m scared).
“Hearing my dad say that hit me hard because he had always been the family’s rock. To see him being afraid and vulnerable was something I never expected,” admitted Amirul.
Like most children, expressing love openly to their parents doesn’t always come naturally. And this was no different for Amirul, who said he used to
feel shy about saying “I love you” to his father.
“Before this, I was shy to say it out loud. But now, I say it often and I’m proud to say it,” he shared.
Having graduated and currently working as an operations officer, Amirul revealed that he once stopped working to care for his father. However, due to financial constraints, he eventually had to resume.
A father who never gave up
From working as a factory supervisor to becoming a security guard, delivery rider, and chef, Kamarzaman’s story is one of quiet strength.
He may not have had an easy life, but he carried his responsibilities without complaint.
And for Amirul and his family, that sacrifice will never be forgotten.
His father’s kindness was something he constantly reminded his children about.
“Do good without looking at someone’s status or rank. In the afterlife, what will bear witness for us are our deeds and actions.
“Fate may already be written, but prayers can change it. Always pray and do good to everyone, no matter the place or time.”
For the son, his father’s life story is more than just a list of jobs.
It is a reminder that love is often shown through sacrifice, and that a father’s quiet struggles are sometimes the loudest proof of love.
Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya – If you wish to reproduce this story, please ensure that you obtain consent from the interviewee to maintain factual accuracy and avoid the potential spread of misleading information.
If referencing or using any information from our story, we kindly ask that proper credit is given, along with a backlink to WeirdKaya, as acknowledgment of the efforts made by our editors in sourcing and conducting interviews.
