KUALA LUMPUR: "Abah" has never had a visitor since he began living at a old folks' home almost a decade ago.
Now 70, his biggest wish is to reunite with his 20 siblings before he dies.
The Kuantan-born bachelor is one of the 200 residents of the Seri Kenangan Cheras old folks' home.
"I have 20 siblings from two mothers, but we are not that close. I never had the opportunity to celebrate (Hari Raya Aidilfitri) with them," he said.
Abah, who has lost contact with his siblings, said it was a lonely thing indeed to celebrate Hari Raya as a single person.
"I wish I could have what others have... they get to celebrate with their family," he said.
His message to any of his siblings who might read or watch his video is simple: "Please come and visit me."
Abah, however, is grateful for the support of the people who run the old folks' home and his friends there who share his plight, as this eases his loneliness during Hari Raya.
"The celebration here is still quite fun because I have friends who act as my family. It's like a very big family.
"On the morning of Hari Raya, we will dine on the cookies together," he said, adding that they will also get new baju raya.
Also celebrating her Hari Raya at the home is Mak Awie, who has been there for six years.
The only child in her family, Mak Awie, who is a spinster, surrendered herself to the welfare home for better care.
"I was staying with my relatives before at my kampung in Negri Sembilan, but I am not well, so I requested to enter the old folks' home," said the former odd job worker.
Despite being away from her relatives, Mak Awie is grateful that she can celebrate Raya with friends of all races at the home.
"Raya at the home is different. Here, I have lots of friends, so in the morning, we will walk to the dining hall and eat together.
"It doesn't matter; even the Chinese and Indians will be there, and we have our breakfast together, or if you wish to bring the food to your room, that's also possible.
"They have lemang, rendang, and Raya cookies," she said, adding that her relatives often visited her at the home.
Meanwhile, "Uncle Siva" is looking forward to sharing in the joy of Aidilfitri with his Muslim friends.
The 68-year-old surrendered himself at the welfare home after not being able to sustain himself, citing difficulty in securing jobs due to his old age.
"My siblings are all married, I have no parents, and I am too old, so it is hard to get a job and to sustain a rental property.
"I am all alone, the rest of my family are married, so I refused to stay alone at our home, so I requested to enter this centre," he said.
Siva said his favourite part was the morning of the first day of Aidilfitri, where he gets to relish a sumptuous feast.
"Whatever the Malays are getting, we will get too. So I will be getting my baju Melayu as well, like last year, and I will wear it together with my friends.
"Now there are not many of us because some are fasting, but on Raya morning, we all will gather at the dining hall.
"There will be satay, rendang, ketupat, and all sorts of Raya cookies," he added.
Siva, however, says he misses his old friend, Ali, who used to celebrate Raya with him in the old days.
"He always brought me everywhere he went, either for buka puasa or Raya.
"But I haven't met him for over a year, and I miss him. I hope I can see him this Raya," he said.
