MAKKAH: A nurse and a visually-impaired couple are persevering through the challenges they are facing as they perform the haj.
Nurse Khairul Anuar Ramli, who works at the Tabung Haji (TH) treatment centre here, said he received sad news from home that his mother, Kamaliah Abd Hamid, 69, died last Saturday.
He said he was taking a break after work when he noticed that he had received several phone calls from his wife and family members early Saturday morning.
He only learnt about his mother's death after reading a message from his wife at 4.11 am.
"My wife told me to be strong. This is one of the tests that I have to face while I'm on duty here."
He said he was sad that he could not be with his family to help with funeral arrangements, but he had to remain strong to continue his duties and could only pray for his mother from the Holy Land.
He said his mother was visiting her sister in Ipoh, Perak, when she began vomiting and experiencing shortness of breath.
She was confirmed dead at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.
Disabled couple Muhammad Bukhari Zakaria, 64, and Siti Aidah Mustapha, 52, who live in Jalan Loke Yew, Kuala Lumpur, said they won't let their disability become an obstacle to performing the haj.
Siti Aidah said they do not have an escort in the Holy Land.
"TH staff helped us a lot, so did our roommates.
"But we don't want the staff and our roommates to be burdened by our issues and disrupt their worship."