Ali Jais, long-lost M'sian dad in S'pore completes COVID-19 jab

By Massita Ahmad

SINGAPORE, June 21 --  85-year-old Ali Jais today completed his COVID-19 vaccination, exactly six-months after returning to Malaysia and after being separated from his family for the past 20 years.

Though a day late, his children who had been longing for him all these years consider the vaccination being the best Father’s Day gift.   

The good news was conveyed to Bernama by his eldest daughter Hasliza who also appended the latest photo of her "Abah" after being vaccinated at the KPJ Tawakkal KL Specialist Hospital today.

Ali was found at the ‘Bukit Batok Home For The Aged’ nursing home in Singapore on Nov 16, 2020, and safely returned to Malaysia on Dec 19, 2020. He now lives with Hasliza in Batu Caves, Selangor.

Asked on how her father has been getting on after six months under her care, Hasliza said her father is fine despite of his age and she and her siblings were grateful to be able to take care of him.

“In the beginning, there were challenges and we needed to make adjustments. Abah now and then used to pack up to return to Singapore. There were also occasions when Abah wanted to go out to find work. But after being persuaded, Abah stopped doing so.

“Sometimes, we feel sad as well especially when Abah asked for dishes that he said he has not eaten for a long time or has never eaten. We just follow Abah's wishes whenever we can," she said.

Meanwhile, Ali's youngest daughter Khazimah is the happiest person because most of her wishes came true and one of them were to celebrate Ali's birthday for the first time on Dec 31, 2020.

Khazimah, who started her search for her father on social media, was also able to celebrate Ramadan and Aildifitri for the first time with her father.

During the search, she appended the only photo of her father that she kept all the while.

“Finally, I was able to hold Abah's hand on Hari Raya. For the first time in my life too, I was able to go raya 'shopping' for Abah," she said happily.

"The only thing we have not been able to do is to gather all the siblings. It is all because of COVID-19. We thought we can celebrate this year, joyfully,” said Khazimah who lives in Selayang near Kuala Lumpur.

Ali's second of three children, Haslina, works as a nurse lives in Terengganu.

The mission to bring Ali home took only a month with the cooperation of various parties in Singapore and Malaysia.

On Nov 15, 2020, Bernama reported the search appeal for Ali by Khazimah and her father was found in less than 24 hours after the news about him was reported.

Hailing from Kuala Selangor, Ali was last seen by his children in 2001, after parting ways with his wife.

-- BERNAMA