Having a family away from family helps to keep the blues at bay

Grateful for family: Being away from family is hard, but Jaclyn, her husband Nurzalie and baby, and Ashlie (right) are happy they have loved ones whom they can count on.

KOTA KINABALU: Having relatives living nearby helps to keep the blues away for Sabahans who cannot journey back to their hometowns for Hari Raya Aidilfitri due to travel restrictions.

Boutique store manager Ashlie Mohd Leslie, 32, who is based in Kuala Lumpur, said he was sad that he would not be able to return to Sabah for the celebration, which has traditionally seen a balik kampung rush for Malaysians.

He said things had looked promising earlier this year with the Covid-19 cases going down but now, chances of returning to his hometown were slim with the infection numbers rising.

“It’s been almost a year since I last went back. With the cases rising again, I’m sure I won’t be able to meet my parents and relatives back home anytime soon, ” he said.

Although voice and video calls have become a way for Ashlie to stay connected with his parents and eight siblings, he feels this is still depressing as many of them are scattered all over the country.

However, he feels lucky to have some relatives – both Muslims and non-Muslims – in Kuala Lumpur and plans to meet up with them during the coming celebration.

“Having relatives nearby makes me feel like I have family with me here as well, and takes away a little bit of that homesickness, ” he added.

Ashlie said what he missed most was his parents’ cooking, grocery shopping with his mother, and joking around with his father.

Muslim convert Jaclyn @ Nurqesha Jury, 34, finds her time away from the family as a new mother unbearable at times.

But she manages to cope with the sadness, she said, thanks to her loving husband and kind parents.

Jaclyn, who gave birth in Kota Kinabalu last year, followed her husband Nurzalie Hamid to Sandakan for work after a month of confinement.

The Dusun native from Tambunan converted to Islam in June 2018.

“What I really miss about home is spending the fasting month together, preparing the pre-dawn meals as well as just being a village girl again, ” Jaclyn said.

She feels that celebrating Hari Raya away from home makes for an incomplete experience.

“I miss everyone back home and can only pray for their well-being. I hope this Hari Raya brings us happiness and health and most importantly, blessings from God, ” she said.

She also hopes that the Covid-19 situation would improve and interstate travel be allowed.

“If not, we’ll just spend Hari Raya here with our neighbours, ” she said.

Sabah is currently under a recovery movement control order.