101-year-old who cared for disabled son dies

Sudden loss: Abdul Rahman bidding his 101-year-old mother farewell before she was laid to rest yesterday. — Bernama

KUALA NERANG: Meliah Md Diah, the centenarian who had been caring for her 63-year-old disabled son, has died.

Meliah, 101, who had no record of any chronic illness, died at her niece’s home in Kampung Bukit Nambua here yesterday. Her son Abdul Rahman Saud was by her side.

According to Siti Jaleha Yunus, 59, her aunt who lived next door had complained of shortness of breath at about 7.30pm on Thursday night.

“We told Rahman that his mother has passed on. Although he is mentally and physically challenged, he seems to understand and has remained silent and withdrawn.”

The heart-tugging image of Meliah hugging and kissing her disabled son, which was uploaded in May, went viral on social networking sites and garnered more than a million likes.

Meliah was buried at the Masjid Kampung Nambua Muslim cemetery yesterday.

Siti Jaleha said her aunt managed to feed Abdul Rahman fried rice for the last time on Thursday.

The housewife, who has five children, said her family would now care for Abdul Rahman the way Meliah had done all her life.

“My late aunt had requested me to take care of her special child when she was no longer around.”

Meliah, whose husband died 20 years ago, had devoted her life to caring for her son who had been severely disabled since childhood.

Abdul Rahman, who is bedridden, has not been able to speak or walk. — Bernama