Not wanting to leave his parents in a financial limbo when they get older, a Malaysian gave them money monthly to help build their retirement fund.
Instead, he later found out that the money was used to pay for his brother’s car, leaving him feeling betrayed by his parents.
M’sian gives RM1K to parents monthly for retirement
In an anonymous posting shared on Facebook, the OP wrote that he currently earns RM2,800 monthly after securing a job upon graduating from university.
His mother then told him that he needed to start giving money to the family every month, saying that it will be saved up as a retirement fund.
Out of filiality, the OP began transferring RM1,000 to his mother every month. He added that having to pay RM800 for and settling his PTPTN loan left him with little savings for himself.
Sometimes my colleagues would invite me out for drinks and I’d decline. It’s not that I didn’t want to socialise—I was just really broke.
“But I felt it was worth it. My parents worked hard to raise me, so what’s the harm in me shouldering a bit of the burden now?” the OP wrote.
‘They paid for it’
The OP recounted that one the day that he took leave to accompany his parents for a medical check-up, he was astonished to see his brother turn up in a brand new Toyota Vios.
“My first thought was: ‘Didn’t he just change jobs not long ago? How can he afford a car?’ Later during dinner, I asked how he was able to afford the instalments, to which he replied, ‘Mum helped me with the down payment.'”
When the OP confronted his mother and asked why the supposed “retirement fund” was used on his brother’s car instead, she replied, “He has a family to support now. It’s not easy for him. You’re still young and energetic so you can take your time.”
Double standards?
This revelation left the OP feeling betrayed and hurt, where he lamented that the money he sent to his parents was to build a secure financial future for them.
But the money was actually used to help my brother live more comfortably.
“To be honest, this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way. When we were kids, whenever we had fried chicken, the drumstick was always his. During Chinese New Year, his angpao was always RM50 more than mine.
“When I got upset, my parents said I was being rebellious. When he threw a tantrum, they said he was under a lot of pressure. I thought things would change when we grew up…but apparently not.”
He then ended the post by saying that he sometimes wonder whether his parents do see him as their own child or not.
What do you think of this? Share with us in the comments!
READ ALSO:
