From South Korea to Kuching, Nurhaslinda’s body finally laid to rest

Abdullah (second left) spreads flowers on Nurhaslinda's grave at Samariang Islamic Cemetery, Kuching on Jan 5, 2024.

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, Jan 5: The body of Sarawakian Nurhaslinda Abdullah, who had passed away in Seoul, South Korea on Dec 25, was finally laid to rest at Samariang Islamic Cemetery here today.

Earlier, her body arrived at MASKargo Kuching warehouse near Kuching International Airport (KIA) here at around 2.20pm.

Abdullah (left) and others carrying Nurhaslinda’s body from the hearse to the grave at Samariang Islamic Cemetery, Kuching on Jan 5, 2024.

After the completion of relevant documentation at the warehouse, her body was transferred to the cemetery by a ‘van jenazah’ (hearse) belonging to Perjalanan Dua Alam.

A ‘jenazah’ prayer was also held at Kuching Raudhatul Sakinah Complex before the body was buried at the cemetery compound.

After the burial, a man led those present at the cemetery to recite “talqīn al-mayyit” (Islamic phrases for the deceased) for the late Nurhaslinda.

Despite the sorrow and sadness, Nurhaslinda’s father, Abdullah Mat, 64, was calm from the moment he saw the arrival of his daughter’s coffin at the airport to the time he helped the others to level off the soil of her grave.

Abdullah levels off soil atop Haslinda’s grave at Samariang Islamic Cemetery, Kuching on Jan 5, 2024.

“Any father will be overcome with sadness upon the passing of his children. However, I have to be patient.

“At this moment, many people do not know what I am going through. I am just putting on a calm and peaceful face,” he told reporters at the cemetery.

He further thanked Malaysian Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Dato Sri Nancy Shukri and Malaysians who have contributed in the donations amounting to RM50,000 to cover the high cost of bringing his daughter’s body back from South Korea.

He also thanked Demak Laut assemblyman Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Santubong Parliamentary Office, Wisma Putra, and the Malaysian Embassy in South Korea for their assistance throughout the process.

Nurhaslinda, 30, from Kampung Sejingkat here, had travelled to South Korea in September 2023 to work at a factory there.

She had a heart condition and had undergone heart surgery 10 years ago to repair a hole in her heart, in addition to having asthma.

On Dec 25, she called her brother Abdul Hafiz Abdullah, 35, to inform him that she was sick and asked him to get a ticket for her to return to Malaysia.

In the afternoon, a friend of Nurhaslinda sent a message informing her brother that she was in critical condition and was receiving treatment in the hospital.

Later, however, Abdul Hafiz received a call from the Malaysian Embassy in South Korea informing him that his sister had died.

Nurhaslinda is the fourth of six siblings. — DayakDaily