12/05/2025

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MONDAY | MAY 12, 2025

ON TWITTER Malaysian Paper

@thesundaily

Mothers who gave love beyond blood bond

Elephant in grief breaks hearts nationwide PETALING JAYA: A heart-wrenching TikTok video showing a distressed mother elephant attempting to rouse her dead calf after a tragic road accident along the East-West Highway near Gerik has triggered an emotional outpouring from Malaysians on social media. The one-minute, 11-second clip, posted by user @isz_zack, has been widely shared for its raw depiction of maternal grief. The footage shows the mother elephant using her trunk to nudge and push at a lorry believed to have run over her calf, which lay lifeless beneath the heavy vehicle. The incident reportedly occurred at about 2am and involved a lorry transporting live chickens. No human injuries were reported. Viewers were especially moved by the sight of the female elephant standing vigil beside her calf for hours, refusing to leave. TikTok user ShawaLoCoS, who was at the scene, described the mother as appearing to be in shock and unwilling to move until authorities arrived to remove the carcass. “She just stood there, waiting, grieving. She didn’t want to leave her baby,” the user wrote in a caption accompanying another video of the incident. The Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department confirmed the incident. Its director, Yusoff Shariff said the calf was a male, estimated to be about five years old. “We received information about the incident at 3.30am. A team was despatched to monitor the situation,” he said. “Efforts are underway to safely capture and relocate the female elephant. The calf’s carcass, which had to be removed from beneath the lorry, will be buried.” The tragedy has reignited public concern over wildlife safety along the East-West Highway, a route known for frequent elephant crossings. Conservation groups and social media users alike called for stricter enforcement of speed limits, more visible wildlife signage and better monitoring to prevent further incidents. Yet, for many, the most searing image remains that of a mother unwilling to leave her calf’s side – a stark reminder of the emotional depth of wild animals and the escalating toll of human-wildlife conflict. Ű BY THESUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Two women share how kindness across cultures shaped their lives, proving that family is more than just a name or lineage

Today, Irene credits her open-mindedness to a life surrounded by diversity. “Living with people of different cultures taught me that we’re all just people. It showed me that love doesn’t care about skin colour.” When Irene thinks of her Indian and Malay mothers, it’s not just one woman who comes to mind. She honours all the women who taught her to live, to love, to believe and to cook. That same spirit echoes in the story of 25-year-old Nur Nazeerah Ahmad Zaini, a Malay woman who also grew up with foster figures across racial lines. But one in particular stands out: a woman she simply calls Mommy Kiara. “I felt safe and secure around her. We weren’t related by blood, yet being with her felt like home,” Nazeerah said. She was very young when she grew close to Kiara, an Indian neighbour who treated her like family. Today, the memories are faint, but the feeling remains. “She used to sit with me while I drew, buy me food and encourage me to chase my dreams,” she said. “Besides my own mom, she was one of the first people who really believed in me.” That early encouragement still fuels Nazeerah, especially now as she slowly builds a following for her art page, @artnosorous, taking commissions and rediscovering the passion that began with Kiara’s gentle support. What makes her story even more poignant is that she can barely remember Kiara’s face. “It’s a bit sad. Someone could love me that much and I can’t even recall her properly.” Now grown, Nazeerah reflects on how her personality and her mother’s values helped her form bonds across cultures. “I think being cheerful helped. But also, my mom taught me to be friendly, yet cautious. So I learned to open up.” If she had the chance to speak to Kiara today, Nazeerah knows exactly what she would say: “Thank you for loving me like your own child. For making me happy, even when I was too young to remember it clearly.”

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Not all mothers are bound by blood. Sometimes, they are the ones who feed us, raise us and stand by us, regardless of race, religion or family ties. For 48-year-old Irene, who also goes by her Indian name Rajeswary, family was never defined by ethnicity. Born Chinese, she was raised not only by her biological mother but also by Indian and Malay families who embraced her as their own. Now, she looks back with quiet, enduring gratitude for the women who shaped her life. “I was babysat by them for over 15 years,” she said. “The Indian and Malay mothers raised me as if I was their own.” It was in their kitchens that she found her rhythm, slicing onions, stirring curries and learning the value of self-reliance. “My Indian mother always got me to cook with her. She used to say, ‘No matter what you do in life, you must know how to cook.’ That’s something I still carry with me,” she said. Things were quieter with her biological mother. “My Chinese mum didn’t really ask me to help in the kitchen. But my Indian mom made it a point to teach me and I loved that. I felt involved,” she said. Each mother gave her something different, her Malay mom instilled patience and calm, her Indian mom gave her boldness, structure and belief.

Irene with members of her extended family.

Through it all, they offered her a love that transcended culture. “I was so close to them I even learned how to pray like them. With the Indian family, I picked up their prayers. With the Malay family, I learned to recite the Quran and perform Islamic prayers. They never forced me, it just made me feel included.” Some memories remain especially vivid. “The night before Deepavali, we’d gather to pray for those who had passed on. Afterwards, we’d all head back to Batu Arang to celebrate. My mom and dad would carry me around like I was a superstar. It’s one of the happiest memories of my childhood,” she said. Living across cultures didn’t confuse her, it shaped her. “I never struggled to adapt. I spent so much time with them, it all felt natural. I was the youngest, so I got spoiled by everyone,” she said with a grin. Over time, her understanding of faith, tolerance and family deepened. “Because I lived with them, I understand why Malays pray the way they do, why Friday khutbahs are loud, why Hindus have rituals. None of that bothers me, I lived it. I get it.”

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