Destitute widow unable to bury husband
SANDAKAN: Siti Marwisa, who had just turned one year old two months ago, was in the living room of her home trying to wake up her father last Friday, which was the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.
Siti’s father was however lying motionless on the floor, his body wrapped in an old bedsheet.
Too young to understand that her father had just passed away, she tried to push the body with all her strength, but her father was not moving.
Siti is the only child of Ros, 28, who is sight impaired.
As she could not see clearly, it was difficult for her to get a job.
And with only RM65 left in possession, Ros could not afford to bury the body of her husband.
Ros’ husband was vomiting blood and complained of abdominal pain before he passed away at home.
Two hours after he died, the grief-stricken Ros sat beside her husband’s body, crying. She had no idea on how to handle the deceased.
The poor immigrant family’s only source of income was her husband’s wage as a labourer, and they could only afford to live in a derelict squatter house.
“We came to Sabah to seek a better life. I never knew that this would happen to us and now I am a single mother,” Ros said.
Her baby, Siti, had never tasted milk since she was born as Ros had problem breastfeeding and she could not afford to buy milk. Siti was only fed with boiled rainwater daily.
That day, at around 1pm, a group of visitors came and wished to donate food to the villagers at Mile 8 here.
The volunteers were surprised to find a dead body in the living room, and quickly arranged a proper burial for Ros’ husband.
With the help of the volunteers, the body was buried yesterday afternoon. They also brought infant formula and food to the family donated by the locals here.