During the festive season, a small group of callous Malaysians is reportedly leaving their elderly and frail parents in hospitals while they celebrate in their hometown.
The claim was made by two healthcare workers through TikTok, known as Dr. Amirah Azlan and a male nurse using the account AyieTDF (HIV/AIDS Counselor).
‘Some are deprived of food and water’
In a video uploaded by Dr. Amirah, she reveals that the third and fourth weeks of the fasting month are particularly critical, as some Malaysians return to their hometowns and send their parents to hospitals under the pretext of illness.
“Some of them are even deprived of food and water, arriving at the hospital with low blood sugar and severely dehydrated,” she shared.
The healthcare workers claim that even if the parents recover before the festive season, the children will normally refuse to take them back until after the celebrations.
I understand that some children are forced to send their elderly parents to nursing homes daily while they work, picking them up in the evenings to return home.
However, I cannot understand the children who send their parents to hospitals, claiming to be unable to care for them even though they are not working.
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Another healthcare worker confirms the case
A male nurse AyieTDF (HIV/AIDS Counselor) also confirms Dr. Amirah’s statement, adding that many children send their elderly parents with various diseases to hospitals at the end of Ramadan.
He uses the term “anak tanggang” (ungrateful children) because it is a fact that many children send their elderly and sick parents, some even paralyzed, to hospitals during this time.
“This allows the children to easily travel to their hometowns for vacations,” he adds.
“In some cases, the parents are not given food or water for days, leading to dehydration and malnutrition.
When they become paralyzed or face other health issues, they are inevitably referred to the emergency department and admitted to the ward.”
“This phenomenon does not only occur during Aidilfitri but also involves other festive holidays, including Chinese New Year,” he shares.
