KUALA LUMPUR: Four years ago, three sisters joyfully shared the happy news of finding their long-lost father but now, they broke the saddest story about him.

       Their father Ali Jais, 88, died at Pasir Puteh Hospital in Kelantan, around 4pm on Monday. He was admitted last Thursday due to a lung infection.

       “Abah (dad) left when I was cleaning his body. I called him but there was no response.

       “With the help of a nurse, I was informed that Abah has gone,” said the eldest daughter, identified only as Hasliza, 45.

       The sisters had not met their father for 20 years before locating him in 2020.

       Although the family only had a short reunion, Hasliza told Bernama she was grateful that the father spent his final moments with them in Malaysia.

       Ali, who was from Kuala Selangor, left his children in 2001 after separating from his wife.

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       The father and children’s reunion came in 2020 after the youngest girl Khazimah, 41, took to social media in search for him, whom she believed was in Singapore.

       News travelled fast and garnered the attention of Singaporeans, who helped in efforts to locate Ali.

       Less than 24 hours after news about him was reported by Bernama, the senior citizen was found at a nursing home for the elderly in the republic.

       Ali was repatriated a month later amidst the closure of the Malaysia-Singapore border due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       It was an emotional reunion, as the sisters and their families welcomed Ali, who had weak knees, with hugs and cries of delight.

       Ali was laid to rest on Monday night.