Compiled by CHARLES RAMENDRAN, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN
People tricking and abandoning elderly parents at religious centre
AT least 10 elderly parents are abandoned every year at a religious education centre in Gopeng, Perak, after being drained of their savings by their ruthless offspring, according to Kosmo Ahad.
Pondok Al-Jaafar founder Mohd Tarudi Bahari said such people often bring their parents to the centre on the pretext of pursuing advanced Quran studies.
However, these grown-up children never return for their parents, leaving them behind permanently.
“They usually drop their parents off, quickly hand over bags of clothes, and claim they want to study religion. Within minutes, they leave, never to return.
“The parents are often bewildered and in shock. I’ve witnessed this far too many times. The children promise to return in a few weeks, but they never do,” said the 71-year-old founder.
Mohd Tarudi said five abandoned parents have passed away at the centre, with efforts to trace their next of kin proving futile.
Among the centre’s 100 residents are even highly educated professionals abandoned by their children.
According to Mohd Tarudi, some children abandon their parents after exhausting their savings, discovering they have health issues, or following family disputes.
> The spirit of multiracial unity shines at a lion dance club in Seremban, with youths of Indian and Malay descent playing key roles in the troupe’s performances.
Ng Kin Wai, chairman of the Ching Wan Lion and Dragon Dance Club, told Metro Ahad that the various ethnic groups’ participation in the club is a positive step toward fostering unity in the country.
“We also plan to incorporate musical instruments from different cultures into our performances,” he said.
One of the performers, 19-year-old K. Harish, joined the club six years ago, drawn by the energy and stunts involved.
“In this club, the lion dance is for everyone. While most members are Chinese, there are also Malays and Indians here. I’ve always felt included and treated like family. We’re one big family,” he said.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
