KUALA LUMPUR: "Hancur badan dikandung tanah, budi yang baik dikenang jua" (Until the body is disintegrated, all good deeds will be remembered). This Malay proverb may aptly describe Muhammad Wafi Zabidi’s appreciation towards Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Muhammad Wafi, 34, who is a cook at Istana Negara, said he would never forget the kindness shown by Her Majesty in paving the way for him and his wife, Nurul Ain Md Yusof, 34, to experience the joy of parenthood after five years of marriage.
Their daughter, Aurora Sofea Humaira, who was now three years old, was conceived through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment granted by Tunku Azizah.
"After Tunku Azizah took residence at Istana Negara in 2019, Her Majesty often asked about married workers at the palace who still have not conceived, and my name was mentioned.
"The Queen met me at the Istana Negara kitchen and asked me about it. She then told me to undergo the IVF treatment. I was shocked as it fetches a high cost estimated at RM30,000...so I am truly grateful for this most precious gift from Her Majesty," he said.
IVF was a dream treatment for all parents who were trying to have children because not everyone could afford it due to its cost.
Tunku Azizah, the founder of the Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF), chose 19 other Istana Negara employees to undergo the IVF procedure.
Muhammad Wafi, who had been working at Istana Negara for 11 years, said he and his wife underwent the treatment in 2019, which took about four months to complete.
He said one treatment was all they needed, and their daughter was born on Aug 2, 2020.
"I will remember this gift for the rest of my life because the IVF treatment is very challenging, especially for women. It caused my wife to be admitted to the hospital for several days because she had difficulties breathing due to her swollen ovaries containing a significant amount of fluid, and they were concerned about potential complications.
"Alhamdulillah, after that, everything went smoothly. When Her Majesty was informed about the success of the treatment, she ordered me to take good care of my wife during her pregnancy and did not allow me to work outstation even though at that time I was supposed to be assigned to Kuantan," he added.
Meanwhile, Mohd Hasry Abd Rahim, 34, a palace herald (bentara), said in November 2021, he was assigned to serve Tunku Azizah during her trip to London, United Kingdom, but found it difficult to focus on the job at hand because floods had struck his family home in Bemban, Melaka.
"I have lived in that house for 13 years, and floods have never hit the area. But suddenly, when I was in London, I received news from my wife that our house had been submerged up to the roof.
"We lost all household items and were left with only the clothes on our backs.
"After receiving the news, I became disoriented and could not concentrate on my job. The Queen noticed this.
"I told her about my family home in Melaka and showed her the photos and videos. Her Majesty was shocked, but she calmed me down and ordered my family to be assisted," he said.
Upon returning, Tunku Azizah extended help to Mohd Hasry in various ways to restore his house, including gifting him household items, furniture, and essentials.
Mohd Hasry thanked Tunku Azizah for showing compassion towards him and all other employees in Istana Negara.
Tunku Azizah will return to Pahang to accompany Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who will end his reign on Jan 30.
Al-Sultan Abdullah ascended the throne on Jan 31, 2019. - Bernama
