GEORGE TOWN: The close, loving relationship between Chee Hoi Lan, 84, and her adopted daughter, Rohana Abdullah, 22, is viewed as unique and very meaningful to be reflected upon by everyone in the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family).
Penang mufti, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said it proved that coming from different ethnic and religious backgrounds was not an obstacle to establishing a good and cordial relationship between individuals.
"I've been deeply touched upon reading the news article and seeing the photo of the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia (UtEM) student wiping away her tears as she would be away from her foster mother whom she addresses as ‘laoshi’ and who has been taking care of her since she was a baby.
"In my view, this very cordial relationship between a mother and her adopted daughter from a different race and religion shows a unique and very meaningful one. In fact, the two has shown their noble nature that should be emulated by everyone.
"What is even more amazing is that Chee has been looking after Rohana all this while without changing her religion. In fact, this kind woman has been bringing up her adopted daughter in the Islamic way in ensuring that she performs her prayers and fast during the month of Ramadan,” he added.
Wan Salim said Islam indeed enjoined such a relationship even between parents and children professing different religions, as the family relationship must remain and not severed in any situation.
"In maintaining a good and cordial relationship between the child and parents in such a situation, it is a must in Islam for the child to obey the real parents as long as he or she is not asked to do something that is ‘syirik’ (polytheism), involving in vice or other things deemed unIsIamic.
Rohana is among 660 diploma-level students from five courses offered by UTeM where she registered at the university’s main campus yesterday.
The girl’s life story had gone viral on social media, as she has been brought up by her Chinese foster mother since she was two months’ old after being left by her Indonesian mother who returned to her country.
Also viralled was her initial inability to further her studies as she had no identity card, but her problem received the attention of the media as well as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and it was resolved. - Bernama
