Tiaran Profile – Sadiah Younis

It is a common sight seeing three young Sudanese children walking along the roads in Tiara. They are well behaved and often seen in the company of other children, chatting and playing.

Mohammad, 11, and his sisters Safanah, 10 and Salsabeelah, 5, are the children of Sadiah Younis and her husband, Dr Khalid Osman Yasuf, from Sudan. Dr Khalid is a lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (International Islamic University) in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, whilst Sadiah is a teacher at the Sri Hartamas Kids Fun Pre-School, working Mondays to Fridays, from 8am to 3pm.

Sadiah is the fifth sibling of nine children. Her parents live in Gadref, "a big city in Sudan, the largest country on the African continent but with a population not much more than Malaysia, at 28 million."

She misses her hometown and would like to return there to live one day in the future. "But we like to live here. We want to stay here, forever," echo her two daughters, who were born here and accom­panied their mother, whilst brother Mohammad had other things to do. Sadiah and her husband have been in Malaysia for 11 years, since l995, living in Kelana Jaya for 8 years before moving to Tiara.

It was her son Mohammad who made the change necessary. He had to undergo treatment at the University Hospital for many years, and it was difficult for Sadiah to travel by taxi from Kelana Jaya to the hospital daily. Her Chinese-Muslim friend, Juliana, chanced upon an advertisement in the papers nearly 4 years ago, regarding a unit in Tiara for rent. She took it since it was closer to the hospital and also a stone's throw from Dr Khalid's work place as well.

"After staying here for a short time, my husband and children all loved this place. It is so very nice, so peaceful and quiet, safe and beautiful. We really enjoy living here," she said, smiling. Dr Khalid's contract with the University is till 2008, but when it is renewed, they will continue staying in Tiara: "We won’t move out, since it is so wonderful staying here."

Two years after Salsabeelah was born, a bone marrow transplant was done on Mohammad, since his sister's blood matched his. Though he is so much better now, Sadiah continues to give him good food and the necessary supplements. The adults eat Sudanese food daily, "since my husband likes to eat only our local food. But my children prefer pizza, local fare and other kinds of food, so I cook various dishes to cater for everyone's needs," she said.

Though vast areas of Sudan is desert, with crops able to grow on only 5% of the land, yet two-thirds of the Sudanese live by farming. They work the land that is watered by the Nile and its tributaries. The main staple is dura and "I mix this with water and blend, to make kisra. It is something like your chappati or roti. I make a thick gravy to go with this, like you have your chappati and dhall curry here, and my husband and I eat this most of the time. My children prefer other kinds of food, like fish and chicken. They do not like mutton or beef." She uses a lot of ladies finger – bamiyah in her language – beans, tomato, onions and potatoes in her cooking.

When Mohammad was unwell, Sadiah stayed at the hospital for many years to look after him, leaving her neighbour, a friend and husband to keep an eye on daughter Safanah. But now that her son is so much better, she teaches at Kids Fun Pre-School whilst her children attend classes at the Maz International School in Petaling Jaya. They are picked from home by the school bus at 7.10am and return around 2.15pm. A part time Filipino maid helps out with the household cleaning.

Safanah enjoys school life, taking part in drama, taekwondo, swimming, play education besides her studies. She is even game to try Yoga that is being taught at the condo grounds if permission is given her, demonstrating to her mother how yoga poses are struck. She has won gold medals in the Sack Race, Ball and Spoon Race and Hole in One. She also participates in sprinting and enjoys swimming and watching television.

Dr Khalid and Sadiah have started building their house in Gadreh, where they return to once every three years. It should be ready in a year's time. But she does not know as yet whether Mohammad can take the hot weather there. "We have three seasons in Gadref, summer, autumn and winter. There is no spring. When the winds are strong during the winter months, it is extremely chilly." She has taken her children back during autumn and also summer, but Mohammad did not take the weather too well. "He sleeps in aircon here, since he does not take heat too well," she added.

Who braids her daughters' complicated hairstyle, I asked. She does, she replied. It is called the moshat hairstyle, and many in Sudan sport this. "If the hair is short, like my daughters’, I take only 25 - 30 minutes to braid their hair. It is not difficult," she said.

The julbab that she wears is the traditional dress worn by the women in Sudan and many Arab countries. "Over here, I buy material and give it to my tailor and she sews the julbabs for me. She is a good tailor."

I asked what festivities they celebrated. "We follow some of your local festivals, like Hari Raya and Hari Raya Haji," she replied, since Islam is the faith of many Sudanese. Besides Islam there are also tribal religions and Christianity.

The family has made many friends here, and it was easy to see why. They are friendly and warm. Sadiah's phone kept ringing several times during the hour she spent with me. "My friends, just to say hello to me and ask what I am doing," she smiled.

"I really love it here but I feel I must return home one day, in the future, because my parents are there," she said. "But not me, Mommy, I love it here. I am going to stay here permanently," Safanah said enthusiastically. "What is ‘permanently’?" her mother asked. "That means forever, Mom. I want to stay here forever."

We wish you and family a long, long and happy stint in Malaysia, Sadiah.