Man shares grief of losing brother and mother to Covid-19

KUALA LUMPUR: It is unimaginable to feel the pain felt by Abdul Rahim Daim who has had to endure the loss of two of his family members due to Covid-19 within a short period of time.

His younger brother Abdul Malik Daim, 43, died on May 22 at the Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) at the Malaysian Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), Serdang, a day before his mother Patimah Babu, 75, breathed her last at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

What made it even more painful for him was his seven other family members, including his wife and three children, were also confirmed to be Covid-19 positive in a screening after experiencing fever and cough on the third day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Abdul Rahim said he never expected this year would be the last Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration for his mother and brother.

“We went for screening at a private clinic and the thing I dreaded the most finally happened when my mother and other family members tested positive for Covid-19.

“Only me and my daughter tested negative.

“We received the test results on May 18 and I sent all my family members who tested positive for the virus to the Covid-19 Assessment Centre at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam the next morning,” he said.

Abdul Rahim said his mother who had diabetes, kidney complications and breathing problems was then taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital, while his brother was sent to PKRC MAEPS and the rest of his family members were placed under home quarantine order.

“I contacted my brother on May 22 as he had asked me to send some clothes and a prayer mat but my phone call was left unanswered.

“A few moments later, I received a call, informing about my brother’s death and asking me to come to the Serdang Hospital.

“My brother died while being taken to the hospital.

“They had tried their best to save him but Allah loves him more,” said the Media Prima Berhad staff member.

Less than 24 hours later, Abdul Rahim said he received another phone call from Sungai Buloh Hospital, informing him that his mother was in a critical condition.

“My family and I had a video call with my mother the day before and that was our last conversation before she was confirmed dead around 2am,” he added.

The bodies of Abdul Malik and Patimah were laid to rest at the USJ 22 Muslim cemetery in Subang Jaya last Sunday.

Asked on the source of Covid-19 infections that have claimed the lives of his mother and brother, Abdul Rahim said he was not sure where it might have come from but said that he would regularly visit his mother, who lived about three kilometres away from his house, to send groceries.

“This has become an unforgettable lesson to me and my family.

“Therefore, I would like to advise all Malaysians not to be complacent in observing the standard operating procedure set by the government as we do not know where the Covid-19 can come from,” he said. — Bernama