'Our Hari Raya is just like any other day' - orphaned siblings

KUALA KRAI - The festive celebrations for two orphan siblings from Kampung Slow Pok Long, Dabong here won't be eventful, without the customary new clothes or feasts enjoyed on Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

After losing their parents Adi Roniand and Yusni Yusof in a tragic car accident in 2014, the siblings had to live independently at a young age and only receiving help from their grandparents.

The siblings were forced to separate from their youngest brother Mohd Aliff Adi, 11, who was being cared for by family members on their father’s side.

Their hardships forced Mohd Azwan Abdullah, 16, and his younger sister Nur Asyikin, 15, to overlook the joy and fun of celebrating Eid like other teenagers.

Asyikin said she and her brother had gone nine years without getting new clothes.

“Our Raya mornings were the same as any other day.

“We have gotten used to such sitautions,” she told Sinar.

The teen explained they were forced to stay home while others being happy with their families.

Asyikin said she misses her parents as she started to have tears in her eyes.

She added they must be strong and realise her brother’s income of RM50 a week as a rubber tapper could only serve to buy food.

“Currently we have never gone hungry even though we had to ration food at times,” she said.

Asyikin said she and Azwan had long since been out of school.

She said it was not due to their hardships, but how they were forced to do so.

She added they did not want to burden their grandparents Yusof Muda, 61, and Roslah Aziz, 60, who were both living with their hardships.