SEREMBAN: An elderly Hindu grandmother who has been raising her two Muslim granddaughters has long wished to visit the grave of her daughter in Klang, Selangor, but has been unable to do so.
This is because she does not know where her only child was buried when she died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
V. Chandra, 64, said her two granddaughters, Jasmine Hawa Abdul Nur, 18, and Roselyn Aisyah Abdul Nur, 16, also long to visit their mother's grave.
Her daughter, Nurani Kalsom Abdullah, 41, died from Covid-19 in 2021, during the peak of the pandemic.
At that time, Nurani was living in Klang with the two granddaughters while Chandra resided in Seremban. Chandra only learned that her daughter was hospitalised when her condition worsened.
"Before that, my granddaughters told me their mother wasn't feeling well. When her condition worsened, I asked Jasmine to call an ambulance. After about a week in the hospital, her condition deteriorated," she said.
"I asked my grandnephew to take her to Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, where the doctors decided to remove her from the oxygen support, and she died shortly after that," she said.
Chandra said that due to her own poor health at the time, all matters concerning the identification of the body and burial were handled by the hospital, and her granddaughters were not allowed to be involved.
"During the burial, I followed the procession to the cemetery, but I only watched from a distance. Since I was unfamiliar with the area, I don't know the exact location of the grave," she said.
"Now that travel restrictions have eased, I want to visit her grave. Although we are of different faiths, she was my only child, my flesh and blood," Chandra added.
Chandra said every year, she would ask her granddaughters or the local mosque to hold a tahlil prayer and offer food aid in memory of her daughter.
Jasmine Hawa said that due to her grandmother's health and the lack of information about the grave and the cemetery, they have been unable to visit their mother's grave.
"I really want to visit my mother's grave, especially during the festive season when I see others visiting the graves of their deceased parents," she said.
She is appealing to anyone who may have information on the location of where her mother was buried to come forward and help.
Meanwhile, Zulkifli Muhamed, the patron of the Cakna Rasa Sayang Association, said his team, with the help of neighbours, has been supporting Chandra's family since her two Muslim granddaughters have been living with her since 2021.
"Klang is a large area, and Chandra is not very familiar with the place. It would be difficult without assistance from the hospital," he said.
"We understand her wish to visit her daughter's grave, as do her granddaughters."
He urged anyone with information on the location of the grave to contact him at 012-3605143.