Depression, breakups, divorces – sad stories of couples split by Covid-19

 

Indonesian national Novita Andriyana (left) celebrating the first birthday of her daughter, Chloe Wong, alone as she has not been able to return here to reunite with her child’s Malaysian father.

PETALING JAYA: Kelantanese Nurul had been so joyful about getting married last year. Sadly, it did not happen, because of Covid-19.

Now, the 21-year-old cries herself to sleep every night, and has no idea if the wedding will ever take place.

The Kelantan native has not seen her Saudi Arabia-based British fiance for 19 months because of travel restrictions on non-Malaysian partners. Worse, there are still no indications that these restrictions will be lifted soon.

Nurul said the wedding planned for last year had to be called off because her fiance wasn’t able to enter the country due to the lockdown. She, too, can’t travel to see him because she needs to care of her mother who has suffered a stroke.

“Nowadays, I cry every night. I don’t have enough sleep. I just feel so sad and disappointed about everything,” she told FMT.

“I’m worried if we will ever be able to get married. We have argued many times because we’re so far away from each other. I am slowly losing hope.”

Novita Andriyana and her one-year-old daughter Chloe Wong.

Nurul’s story is just one of the many highlighted in the “Love Is Not Tourism” Malaysia Facebook group, which is part of a global grassroots movement dedicated to reuniting couples and families who have been forcibly separated by travel bans and border closures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The group’s co-founder, who wanted to be known as Elise, said the Malaysian branch was founded in July 2020.

The group’s aim, she explained, was to encourage the government to consider as essential the reuniting of married and unmarried partners – and children if they are involved too – and allow such travel.

While the immigration department launched the MyTravelPass (MTP) in October 2020 to ease the process of applying for entry or exit permits during the pandemic, many foreign spouses, partners and children saw their applications rejected.

Although Malaysians are now allowed to exit the country without the MTP and foreigners with valid long-term passes can enter without the pass, many are unable to reunite because of work, health or care responsibilities – or because their partner’s country is closed to Malaysians.

Elise said there are also many foreign spouses whose visa had expired while they were stuck abroad, or who never had a spouse visa. These people are still not allowed to enter Malaysia.

“There are foreign spouses who have lived in Malaysia for more than 10 years but still get rejected when trying to return here.

“Malaysian fathers have missed the entire first year of their newborn’s life and are still not allowed to meet their child in another country,” Elise said, adding that this has forced the mothers to be single parents, “and it’s a struggle for them.”

She hoped that with the cases brought to light, Putrajaya could be convinced to give MTP entry approval to foreign spouses, children of Malaysians and unmarried partners with strong supporting documents to prove their relationship or family ties.

“We’re so tired of the endless MTP rejections. There are so many sad stories of depression, breakups and divorces.”

Among those who have seen MTP rejections is Indonesian Novita Andriyana, whose Malaysian fiance has yet to meet their daughter – who turned one last month.

Separated from William Wong since March 31 2020, Novita told FMT she has tried applying for the MTP “more than 20 times” but has been denied each time.

“Some of the reasons given are that the travel is ‘non-essential’, the ‘wrong category’, or being unable to open the supporting documents. Mostly, the reason given is that the travel is ‘non-essential’,” she said.

“I know he (Wong) is very sad, especially since he wants to hug and kiss our daughter. But we’re both staying strong, being positive and supporting each other.”

Foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah with a few of the ‘Love Is Not Tourism’ Facebook Malaysia group members. He has promised to raise their plight in the next Cabinet meeting. (Saifuddin Abdullah Twitter pic)

Members of the Facebook group recently held a meeting with foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who has promised to raise their plight in the next Cabinet meeting.

In a Twitter post on Oct 25, Saifuddin noted how travel restrictions on the group’s non-Malaysian partners caused them to suffer from anxiety, depression and mental anguish.

One such non-Malaysian partner is Indian national Ajay Rathi, who has not seen his Sabahan fiance since October 2019 – more than two years ago.

The couple had to postpone their wedding, originally scheduled for April 2020, as he was unable to enter the country. Meanwhile, he has cashed in on all his investments in India to buy a plot of land in Papar, where he hopes to build a home with his fiance.

Indian national Ajay Rathi (R) and his Sabahan fiance, Lyna Karim.

He has applied for the MTP 13 times over the past 25 months, and while it was approved once, he was unable to travel to Malaysia as he did not have enough time to get his paperwork in order.

“My health has become a concern these days, and I think it’s because I haven’t been able to enter Malaysia,” he told FMT.

“I have high sugar levels, high blood pressure and eyesight problems now. I cannot sleep at night.”

Sadly, though, there seems to be no end in sight to the sleepless nights endured by the likes of Ajay and Nurul. - FMT