Two women in Singapore who were brought up by different families were surprised to learn that they’re actually sisters.
This unexpected turn of events was reported by The Straits Times last weekend, where it told the story of how 72-year-old Thangah Koh and 71-year-old Fatimah Mohidin got to know of their family ties to each other.
Were best friends since their younger days
In an interview with the English daily, Fatimah said she and Thangah were super close since childhood and often played with each other.
However, their facial features often caused many to ask whether they were sisters as there was a strong resemblence.
People said we looked alike and asked if we were sisters. I said I’m Malay, while Thangah is Indian. How could we be sisters?” she said.
Thangah also added that both her and Fatima’s adoptive mother would often tell them to play together but never told the reason why.
Childhood best friends discover they’re actually sisters
When Thangah became a teenager and went to register for an identity card, she learnt that she was actually born to a Chinese family after the immigration officer told her that the names of her birth parents were Chinese.
At first, Thangah was hesitant to ask her adoptive parents about the matter as her adoptive father was a gruff man. But when she turned 20, she began searching for her biological parents as she needed documents to register for Singaporean citizenship.
She later managed to successfully track down her birth parents’ address and was told by her birth father that Fatimah was actually her sister.
Separated since birth due to astrological beliefs & poverty
The Straits Times reported that Thangah was a sickly child and her family gave her up to a non-Chinese family at the advice of an astrologer who said it was necessary to prevent ill fortune from befalling her father.
As for Fatimah, she was also given away a year later also at the advice the astrologer who said she might bring bad luck to her mother.
Furthermore, Thangah and Fatimah’s family were also facing financial constraints as they had eight kids in total and their father worked as a mechanic.
Both of them were adopted by an Indian family, but Fatimah was later given to a Malay family as the family couldn’t cope with raising two children.
Celebrated festive occasions with birth family
After they were reunited as sisters, Thangah and Fatimah now celebrate festivals with their birth family, with Thangah saying that their bond with their birth family have become all the stronger.
My biological siblings are all loving and respectful, and our bond got closer as we got older. My brothers call me their Indian sister, and Fatimah their Malay sister.
“I never felt angry that I was given away. I take it as God’s will. I also feel very grateful to my adoptive parents for raising me,” she added.
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