Siblings stranded in Thailand safely returned home

PASIR MAS: Three Malaysian siblings and their mother who were stranded in Thailand since March following the closure of the Malaysia-Thai border due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have finally returned home.

Sakina Museh, 38, a Thailand citizen, and her three sons Muhamad Adam Daniel, 12, Muhamad Arash Raihan, seven, and Muhamad Muhaimin Putra, four, entered Malaysia via the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Rantau Panjang yesterday.

Upon arrival, they were sent directly to the quarantine facility in Kota Bharu to observe the 10-day quarantine.

The coordinator of the Kelantan quarantine centre, Captain (PA) Muhammad Shafie Rosslee, said the family would undergo the swab test today and another one on the eighth day.

"All personnel involved in receiving and sending them to the quarantine centre were wearing full personal protective equipment. We have complete facilities there and 26 personnel from various agencies are ready to carry out their duties," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Sakina expressed her gratitude to have finally returned home with the assistance of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla and the Governor of Narathiwat.

"Now I only think about the lot of my three sons, including two who will be going to school, after their father died from cancer last September.

"Prior to this, our life was indeed difficult because my husband was unable to work for two years. Thankfully, the Social Welfare Department and Lembaga Zakat Selangor were there to assist us," she said, adding that she would return to her rental house in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur after the quarantine has been completed.

It was reported that Sakina took the children with her to Thailand last March 16 to renew her visa as she had no one to take care of them in Malaysia, after the death of her husband, Mohd Roi Ab Rahman, who hailed from Kampung Kubang Panjang, here.

Two days later, the Malaysian government announced the Movement Control Order and closed the border gates.

-- BERNAMA