JOHOR BAHRU – Ever since the Malaysia-Singapore border was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Malaysian couple working over the causeway had no choice but to leave their children, aged 13 and 14, behind in Johor Bahru.
Fortunately, their Indian neighbours have gone the extra mile by sending food and daily essentials to the children while making sure they are safe at home. As the saying goes, “A neighbour nearby is better than a cousin far away”.
Reunited
Before the pandemic struck, the couple would cross the border every day. However, on March 18 last year, they had to decide whether they should stay or return to Malaysia before the borders closed.
To provide their children with better living conditions, the parents chose to bear the pain of being separated from their children and stay in Singapore.
According to an interview with Sin Chew Daily, the mother, Zou Hui Ling (based upon pronunciation), said they requested Muthusamy and his wife’s help in taking care of their children, who gladly took them in.
She added that the couple would always help them buy daily essentials and food and even shared their meals with the kids too.
The couple’s third child, a 3-year-old, was under the care of a babysitter staying near their Johor Bahru home. She often helped the kids with their laundry and would cook for them on alternate days. She also bought new uniforms when schools were reopened.
During the separation period, the children often cried on the phone as they missed their parents, leaving the latter helpless and distraught. After careful consideration, they decided to bring the oldest children to Singapore to take good care of them. As for the youngest child, he will be brought over once the travel ban is lifted.
Training in Humanity
Muthusamy said that he had been the family’s neighbour for three years, and felt that help shouldn’t be limited by the colour of one’s skin or racial background. He credited this belief to his 28-year stint in a Singaporean jail, where he was greatly influenced by humanitarian values.
“There was once when her daughter injured herself with a piece of glass and her brother asked for our help. I immediately sent her to the clinic.”
Blackout
When the couple’s residential area had a blackout, the children were afraid to sleep in the dark, so Muthusamy brought them over to his house for several hours until the electric supply was restored.
He added that Zou will always contact his wife regularly to ask about the children as she wanted to know whether they were safe at home.
Sending off the children
Due to a few failures on previous applications, Zou was worried that her children wouldn’t be able to enter Singapore. As temporary guardians, Muthusamy and his wife sent the children right up to the border and only left after receiving the news that they’ve arrived in Singapore safely.
What a heartwarming story! We hope that the family will be well in Singapore and be reunited with their youngest son soon.
Source: Sin Chew Daily
Editor: Raymond Chen
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh
