The news about singer Siti Sarah’s death was highlighted by BBC News on its news portal today (Aug 10).
It mentioned how the singer – who was eight months pregnant – had succumbed to Covid-19 just days after she delivered her fourth child via surgery, when her condition took a turn for the worse.
Her passing has touched the readers that many people left warm messages on the BBC official Facebook. There were more than 1,000 comments for this particular article.
Helena Reid wrote: “What heart-breaking, devastating news, so young. Love and thought to her family, also her beautiful son.”
Frank Boakye Appiah said: “Child Birth and Covid!! You've got to love and respect mothers!! My Condolences to her family.”
Sylvia Lewis commented: “Condolences to her husband, children and the whole family. So sad, so young. Just goes to show covid doesn't care where you come from, what age you are, what colour you are, big, small, old, young, old, rich or poor, it will kill you. It doesn't care. Stay safe people.”
Sue Cliff wrote: “This news is so sad. Poor woman never got to hold her baby. Sending condolences.”
BBC News also reported that the Malaysian king and queen conveyed condolences to the singer’s family.
Her husband, comedian Shuib Sepahtu, on an Instagram Live session on Aug 9 shared how the family came to be infected by the virus.
“My domestic helper went downstairs to throw the rubbish. Coincidentally, she met and greeted her friend, and (that’s how) she was infected. In turn, the whole family got infected,” said Shuib.
According to him, he has been vaccinated but Siti Sarah didn’t manage to get the jab yet.
While he was at first confident that Siti Sarah would get better, he became doubtful after talking to the doctors.
“(I was told) my wife’s entire lungs were affected by the virus that they couldn’t function and distribute oxygen to the body. And this affected other organs from functioning as well.
“It’s highly likely (her condition worsened) because she wasn’t vaccinated. Only God knows.”
Siti Sarah was hospitalised on Aug 4 after experiencing severe coughing and low oxygen levels.
Shuib advised everyone to stay healthy and vigilant especially when deaths are happening daily.
He also shared that his children – Uwais Alqarni, 10, Dzahira Talita Zahra, eight, and Ariq Matin, six – were still sleeping when their mother passed away at 5.13am at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre.
While trying to delay the news as long as possible, Shuib knew he had to tell the children before they find out from the Internet.
He recalled that they were sobbing when he broke the news to them but they finally understood. But they broke down again after completing their Asar prayers.
His Instagram live session was viewed by more than 500,000 people who conveyed their condolences to the family.
Siti Sarah was laid to rest at the Sungai Pusu Muslim cemetery in Gombak near her mother’s grave at 1.20pm yesterday (Aug 9).
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