Seeking treatment: A 2018 picture of Ooi and Khaw at their home.
PETALING JAYA: “Humans can’t do anything for them. I can’t do anything for them. I can only leave it to God. I hope God won’t let them suffer,” said Datin Elaine Khaw, the wife of ailing composer Datuk Ooi Eow Jin.
On Tuesday, Ooi, his wife, their son and the family’s caregiver were admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital for Covid-19.
Khaw said that Ooi and her son’s situation was “not so good”, when The Star contacted her yesterday afternoon.
Ooi, 84, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2015 which left him with little motor function. Since then, he has been under the care of his wife and the caregiver at the couple’s home here.
Their son, Raymond, 58, also needs constant care as he suffers from a brain tumour and is visually impaired.
Karyawan president Datuk Freddie Fernandez informed The Star that Khaw had called him in distress as she couldn’t look after her husband and son, as they were placed in the male section of the hospital where she’s not permitted to enter.
“I was put in a different ward, so I can’t attend to them.
“They both need to be fed and I cannot go and feed them,” said Khaw.
“When food comes, sometimes they don’t eat anything because they cannot eat on their own,” she continued, adding that she only saw them once on Thursday night.
“The staff are not able to take care of them because it’s very tough to look after them.”
Ooi, a pianist in the RTM Orchestra in the 1960s and 70s, had an illustrious career in the local music industry for four decades.
During that period, he collaborated with Tan Sri P. Ramlee, and had written songs for the late Datuk Sudirman Arshad, Rahimah Rahim and Alleycats.
Yesterday evening, Khaw received some good news, according to Fernandez.
“The hospital has given Ooi a room and she has been allowed to stay with him. She is relieved now.
“Their son is still separated but I think he is alright for now. Let’s hope for the best,” he said.
