05/02/2025

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WEDNESDAY | FEB 5, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Couple takes on role of parents to 150 cats o Construction of shelter financed personally but monthly expenses subsidised by private donors

Duo on 10,000km trek of faith to Mecca KEPALA BATAS: In a display of determination and faith, two friends have set out on a 10,000km journey on foot, travelling from Bertam in Penang to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to fulfil their dream of performing the umrah . Muhammad Farhan Khadid, 34, from Pendang and Shamsul Azrin Man, 43, from Kota Sarang Semut in Kedah, began their journey on Monday. Self-employed Muhammad Farhan said they chose to begin their journey at Masjid Abdullah Fahim in Kepala Batas, where he works. The pair began preparing physically and mentally last December when they accompanied another duo Mohamad Al Bukhari Ellia, 26, and Mohamad Azizul Abdullah, 34, on a trek to Mecca. “We walked with them from Alor Setar to Hatyai, Thailand in December. That was when we decided to follow their footsteps. Since then, we have been preparing for this journey,” Farhan said. “ Alhamdulillah , today we begin our journey with the support of Al Bukhari and Azizul and with prayers from everyone for our safe travel.” Farhan, who is single, revealed that they were not sponsored for the trip. Instead, they funded the entire journey through their savings of approximately RM10,000. “We performed Istikhara prayers before deciding to go on this journey. We have also stayed committed to our training, including jogging and running, and sought advice from experienced travellers who have walked or cycled to Mecca,” he added. Shamsul Azrin, a businessman and father to a seven-year-old, said they do not have a set timeline but plan to walk 25km to 30km daily. “We will follow the same route taken by Al Bukhari and Azizul, starting with a walk to Hatyai. From there, we’ll take a train to Bangkok, then fly to New Delhi in India. “Then we’ll walk to Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan, head to Bandar Abbas in Iran, take a ferry to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and eventually make our way to Riyadh and Madinah in Saudi Arabia,” he said. Muhammad Farhan and Shamsul Azrin are hopeful that Malaysians will pray for their safety and success. – Bernama

IPOH: The daily routine of housewife Ramlah Darus and her husband Salim Dahri begins at 7am when they set out to feed the street cats they have rescued, even before breakfast. First, they head to the back portion of their house in Taman Perpaduan Koperasi, where they are greeted by the hungry cries of dozens of kittens. After feeding them and cleaning their litter boxes, Ramlah, 62, rides her scooter to the market to buy essentials. While marketing, she keeps an eye out for stray cats. If she finds any, she collects them and places them in a carrier she always has with her. Meanwhile, Salim, 61, a retired policeman, heads to a shelter near their home, which houses over 150 cats rescued from the market or found on the streets. He feeds them and cleans the shelter. “Sometimes, I travel outside Ipoh if someone contacts me about an abandoned cat. I could choose to rest at home at my age, but I can’t bear to see these cats neglected,” Ramlah said. Given the couple’s devotion to cats, it is hard to believe they once disliked them intensely. “We considered them dirty. Furthermore, I suffer from asthma,” she said, adding that everything changed after their second child, Fitri, 30, brought home a black cat he named Tam and insisted on keeping it. When her son left home for further studies, she had no choice but to take care of the cat. Over time, she grew fond of it. “I then secretly started rescuing stray cats and bringing them home. My husband initially disapproved but eventually warmed to the idea,” said Ramlah, who began her cat rescue mission about eight years ago. The mother of six said as the number of cats

Ramlah said she and her husband initially disliked felines but had a change of heart after their son brought home their first cat. – BERNAMAPIC

protection. Every time I share posts about our activities on social media, some kind-hearted people step forward to contribute,” she said. The couple’s kindness towards strays has not been without criticism, with some questioning why they care for so many cats despite their own financial struggles. “That’s the challenge. Not everyone agrees with what we’re doing. Some neighbours look at us disapprovingly, and there are those who say if we can’t afford it, we shouldn’t be keeping the cats. “But we are determined to continue as long as we are able,” Ramlah said, adding that the rising cost of living has also led to an increase in the food and medical expenses. Individuals wishing to donate may can send contributions to Maybank account numbers 5582-8437-7416 or 7887-8892-7257-1091, under the name Persatuan Prihatin Kucing Jalanan Ipoh, Perak, or contact Ramlah at 011-3976-4493.

grew, caring for them became more challenging. This prompted her and her husband to search for a dedicated space to house the felines, Bernama reported. “Thank God, someone was kind enough to donate a plot of land nearby for us to build a cat shelter. We funded the construction ourselves,” she said, adding that expenses for the cats have increased to around RM1,000 a month. “My husband is willing to use his pension to ensure the welfare of these animals, which we see as a charitable act. Thankfully, we also have regular donors who contribute either food or money every month, which greatly helps us continue our mission,” she said. Ramlah also said she and Salim established an NGO called Persatuan Prihatin Kucing Jalanan Ipoh last year with like-minded friends and family members who share their passion. “My husband and I cannot afford to take care of the cats on our own. These animals are also creatures of Allah , that need care and

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