Chee raised Rohana to be a good Muslim

Maternal love: Rohana embracing and kissing her foster mother Chee. — Photo courtesy of Harian Metro

PETALING JAYA: Despite religious and racial differences, it did not stop Chee Hoi Lan from raising Rohana Abdullah, who was abandoned as a two-month-old baby at a kindergarten 22 years ago after her Indonesian mother returned to her country.

Chee, 83, had been a kindergarten teacher where Rohana’s mother worked as a cleaner and has been raising the girl, who is now 22, like her own flesh and blood despite their religious and racial differences.

In a news report by Harian Metro on Friday, Chee said she was aware that they had different faiths and because of that, she tried to provide for all of Rohana’s needs including sending her for religious lessons such as Kelas Asas Fardu Ain (Kafa).

Apart from that, Chee also ensured that Rohana learnt the basics of Islam through her studies at school and interactions with those around her.

“I love her like my own child. Since childhood, I made sure she eats halal food and does religious worship as a Muslim until today.

“But before I die, I want to see her get married, be successful and happy. I am relieved because her whole life, I made sure that she lived as a Muslim and will remain so forever,” said Chee.

Earlier, Chee had brought up the issue of Rohana not having citizenship status with the Batu Zone Residents Representative Council chairman Gulam Muszaffar Ghulam Mustakim.

Chee, who is unmarried, said that throughout the entire time Rohana has lived with her, she has ensured that her daughter continued to practise the Muslim faith.

“I know there are things she can’t eat. I know there are times she needs to pray and that’s not a problem at all.

“I take responsibility as a mother, I educate, I nurture her as she should. What differentiates us is culture and religion,” she said.

Rohana said she will continue to love her adoptive mother who is affectionately called laoshi (teacher in Mandarin) even after she goes on her own path.

Rohana’s mother, an Indonesian, was married to a local man but he had disappeared after Rohana was born.

“Currently, I am facing the problem of obtaining citizenship status. I understand because my mother is Indonesian and my father has disappeared since I was a child.

“I applied for citizenship status in 2016 and until now there has been no response.

“So laoshi and I met with Gulam Muszaffar who happened to be her student in 1980 to ask for help in this issue,” said Rohana.