Home is where the heart is: (From left) ACP Soffian, Tuan Nur Farhana and Kapt Muhammad Aizat.

       GEORGE TOWN: Being a frontliner during the pandemic means putting yourself at the forefront between those who have Covid-19 and those who don’t, and for those far away from their hometowns, that means not seeing their family at festivals.

       George Town OCPD Asst Comm Soffian Santong, a Sabahan, has not been home since being transferred to Penang at the end of 2019, but he will “balik kampung” soon.

       “I am happy to be finally going home for Hari Raya to celebrate with my siblings and relatives.

       “My parents are no more, but I still have plenty of family there.

       “This Hari Raya will be extra special as my nephew is getting married a few days afterwards, so it is double the celebration,” he said.

       ACP Soffian, 49, said his family celebrated the past two Hari Raya with video calls, but nothing “beats being there in person”.

       “My two older children are excited to see their cousins as well. I did lose many relatives, including uncles and aunts, to Covid-19, which is sad as I hoped to visit them when I returned.

       “Usually our schedule will be packed with visits, but now there are fewer relatives to meet,” he said.

       ACP Soffian is also looking forward to bringing his 10-month-old daughter to Sabah for the first time.

       Another frontliner eager to return home for Hari Raya is Tuan Nur Farhana Tuan Mohammad, a Civil Defence Force administrative clerk.

       Her last Hari Raya reunion in Kuantan was two years ago and she is thrilled to finally be able to go home next week.

       Tuan Nur Farhana, 27, said she missed her mother’s cooking the most.

       For the past two years, the eldest of four siblings could only see her family virtually as they donned new clothes in matching colours for the family album, while she and her aunt in Penang celebrated modestly.

       “I have been posted here for six years already, but I always made a trip home every month or two before the pandemic hit,” she said.

       She longed to join everyone in the kitchen to prepare the feast.

       “My matching dress is ready and waiting to be worn back home,” she said.

       She said although she did go home recently, returning for Hari Raya has a special significance.

       “All my siblings live in Kuantan and I am the only one living away from my family. This Hari Raya will be extra special as we plan to spend time with my grandparents as well,” she said.

       Penang Civil Defence Force operations officer Kapt Muhammad Aizat Abdul Ghani, 36, is also looking forward to Hari Raya because he will finally be able to celebrate it with his parents after two years.

       “They live in Kepala Batas and I couldn’t go back due to the movement control order and work.

       “It was tough for us as we were frontliners stationed at hospitals, quarantine centres and other high-risk places.

       “We had to keep a distance from our loved ones and only visit when we were sure it was safe.

       “This Hari Raya will be different as I am no longer stationed at high-risk centres and can celebrate with my family.

       “Last year was difficult. Despite being careful, I caught Covid-19 and passed it to my children.

       “Now that things are better, we will be going to Kepala Batas to celebrate with my parents for a few days,” he said.