BUTTERWORTH: A. Annamah has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the "Oldest Living Woman" at 110 in conjunction with her birthday here today.
During a celebration, attended by MBOR chief executive officer Christopher Wong, Annamah was presented with a recognition certificate for having defended her record as the Oldest Living Woman in Malaysia, which she held since last year.
According to her son, M. Subramaniam, 73, Annamah's memory is still strong despite her advanced age.
In fact, he said, she could still recognise some of the women who had sought her services as a midwife during her younger days.
"It is just that her hearing and vision have been deteriorating in recent years.
"In fact, my mother was still able to walk by herself five to six years ago, washed her own clothes and do other chores.
"However, in recent years, she has been confined to the wheel chair," he told newsmen.
Sharing his mother's secret to longevity, Subramaniam said Annamah watched her diet by consuming herbs and practiced fasting, something which she has been doing since young.
"In the past, my mum would fast once a week, on Mondays.
"Also, she is not one who sits still while we were staying in the estate previously.
"When she returned from work at the estate, she would plant her own vegetables, attend to her chickens and many others," he added.
Annamah was born and raised in India before she migrated to Malaysia during her teenage years.
Besides having five children, with two of them still alive, including Subramaniam, Annamah is also a grandmother to 17 grandchildren and great grandmother to seven great grandchildren.