Parents Died Of COVID-19, Indonesian Children In Malaysia Are Orphans

Mohd Fadlul Wafi/PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

JAKARTA - An Indonesian citizen (WNI) who lives in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mohd Fadlul Wafi (10) became an orphan because his parents died due to exposure to COVID-19.

"Wafi is the son of the married couple Isngaini and Ruliatin. Pak Isngaini died July 19, 2021, due to COVID-19, then his wife followed on July 24", said Wafi's neighbor, Sholikhan, quoted by Antara, Friday, August 6.

Isngaini is an Indonesian citizen from Ponorogo who has a permanent Malaysian identity card or a red IC, while his wife from Lamongan, a passport holder, follows her husband.

"The father died while self-isolating at home while his wife died in hospital because he was infected by his husband. Wafi himself was negative and isolated at home", he said.

Wafi is currently in grade 4 at the National School (SK) Kampung Baru. He was able to enter a Malaysian school because his father held a red IC.

The late Isngaini worked as a blacksmith. Meanwhile, Ruliatin works as a janitor at her child's school.

Currently, Mohd Fadhlu Wafi lives with the brother of the late Ruliatin, Khakim.

Wafi was not only abandoned by his parents but also by two of his mother's siblings in Kuala Lumpur.

"In two weeks he lost four loved ones. First, his father, followed by his mother, then two of his mother's brothers. They died in Hospital Selayang and Hospital Kuala Lumpur", said his next-door neighbor, Nazikin.

Several donations have been given to Wafi including from DPLN SBMI Malaysia, APMI Malaysia, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, residents while Ustadz Ahmad Fathoni from PCIM Malaysia offered to include him in the Safe Children Home.

"I offered to put in the benevolent house (orphanage) I used to care for", he said.