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Separated by borders

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Suling (left with back to camera) and daughter Farah Jumika Tendin,23 (right) meet up with Jessica (right facing camera) to hand over food at the gate of Tebedu National Border Post on the border of Sarawak and Entikong, Kalimantan. Photo: Ghazali Bujang

SERIAN: A mother’s love lasts until the hereafter — not to be separated by the borders of two countries.

Two women were found standing while carrying plastic bags containing food in front of the fence of the Tebedu National Border Post and Entikong, on Saturday (Oct 31).

Among the items brought include boiled corn, packs of instant noodles, and some snacks such as crackers as if they were sending food supplies to a child who went to a boarding school.

Sister daily Suara Sarawak was at the location of the border between Sarawak-Indonesia during the incident and was able to greet one of them — known as Suling Jack, 42 years old.

The purpose was to provide food to a younger woman who appeared pregnant, on the other side of the border — Indonesia, who was accompanied by another woman.

Suling revealed that she and her eldest had moved as early as 8 am from Kampung Entubuh to the area to meet her second child who is now living in a village in Songtas, Indonesia.

She said that her second child often contacted them via mobile phone as she had just married a man from the village almost five months ago.

As a mother, Suling feels that her daughter who will soon have her first baby, needs to be given more attention even though they are separated due to the ongoing recovery movement control order (RMCO).

“Honestly, I feel guilty, but what can we do when Jessica, 21, decided to marry people there.

“As a mother, I could not hide my worries but still; I hold on to hope she is fine in living her life, to become a mother to the firstborn later,” she said.

She said she would try to meet Jessica every week while bringing along a small supply of her favourite food.

Suling also recalled that she couldn’t attend Jessica’s wedding which took place in Songtas last June due to restrictions on cross-border movements.

“When she got married, I could not go; those who went were herself and her grandparent. This was because she got married during the movement control order (MCO), so we had to observe from afar,” she said.

Meanwhile, a survey at the location saw the place to be quiet, as there were no cross-border activities at the end of October.

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