Current Affairs

On Monday, Malaysians mourn the loss of the talented songstress Siti Sarah Raissuddin, 36, as she succumbed to COVID-19 complications at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM).

The singer had to be put in an induced coma in order for her to deliver her fourth child, with her pregnancy at the age of seven months. 

On the 27th of July, the singer confirmed that she and her family tested positive for COVID-19. Three days post-delivery, at 5:13 am, Sarah passed. Her husband, Shuib, confirmed that she was not vaccinated. 

600,000 individuals tuned in to Shuib’s Instagram Live, where he called for viewers to get their vaccination as soon as possible. Along with grieving family and netizens, celebrity colleagues also offered their condolences for the family’s loss.  

Inalillahi wainailaihi rojiun. Sending love and condolences to her family and friends. Rest in love Siti Sarah 🤲🏽❤️ https://t.co/uDmbffkG34

— YUNA (@yunamusic) August 9, 2021

Al Fatihah. 💔 Salam takziah buat keluarga dan sahabat tercinta. May you be amongst the ones He loves the most. InsyaAllah. Semoga tenang di sana. 🤍 https://t.co/sBorbT62UP

— Sharifah Amani 🇲🇾 (@sharifahamani) August 9, 2021

Sedih dan pilu dgn pemergian permata seni suara.

Kesudahan mu amat amat amat memilukan dik.
Moga Allah cucuri RahmatNya ke atas roh mu dan berikan kekuatan kepada seluruh keluargamu.

Salam takziah shuibsepahtu dan anak2 dan moga dipermudahkan segala urusan mu.

Al fatihah… pic.twitter.com/MD4sSX6h3X

— ADIBAH NOOR 🇲🇾😼 (@adibahnoor) August 8, 2021

Salam takziah buat Shuib dan keluarga. Sesungguhnya Allah SWT yang maha mengetahui dan sebaik-baik perancang. Moga segala dosa arwah Siti Sarah dihapuskan dan rohnya ditempatkan dalam kalangan orang yang disayang Allah. Al-Fatihah.

— Neelofa (@Neelofa) August 9, 2021

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
May Allah grant ukhti Siti Sarah jannatul Firdaus and a beautiful patience for her family Aameen ya Rabb

— Mizz Nina (@TheRealMizznina) August 8, 2021

All my strength, love & prayers to Siti Sarah’s family during this heartbroken time.

May Almighty Allah grant her eternal peace. 💔😔

— Hannah Delisha (@HANNAHDELISHA_) August 9, 2021

Rest in peace Siti Sarah. Prayers out to the family. such sad news to wake up to

— Jin Lim 🏴 (@Jinnyboy) August 9, 2021

Malaysia’s Director-General of Health, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, expressed his condolences on his Twitter as well. 

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

Takziah kepada keluarga Siti Sarah Raissuddin & kepada semua ahli keluarga rakyat Malaysia yang telah terkorban oleh covid19.

Al-fatehah

— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) August 8, 2021

Siti Sarah’s death is only one out of the 212 lives lost on Monday, and the 10,961 all-time COVID-19 deaths in the country as of 9th August 2021. 

In a clinical guideline released by Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) on 1st July 2021, pregnant women are classified as a priority group, and the ministry’s advice is to have them offered vaccination between 14 to 33 weeks of pregnancy, and high-risk mothers should ideally be vaccinated pre-pregnancy. 

According to the data collated in the same document, the Pfizer vaccine is recommended for both pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. 

For the expecting mothers who still doubt the benefits of the vaccine, or are just facing stubborn naysayers, watch this World Health Organisation (WHO) video, where chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explains the science concerning pregnancy, menstruation, lactation and fertility.