Meet The Malay Woman ‘Dignifying A Profession’ With Her Unconditional Love For Stray Dogs
In a country where Muslims abhor dogs for religious reasons, Halijah Idris, the widow of famous stray animal rescuer Pak Mie, have bucked that belief to rescue and care for stray and abandoned dogs in Malaysia's rice-bowl state, Kedah.
Cover image via themalaysianinsider.comOn 19 January, Halijah Idris, known as Mak Intan, the widow of famous stray animal rescuer Pak Mie, received the "Dignifying A Profession" award from the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya for her unconditional love for stray animals despite facing numerous challenges and hatred from a section of Malaysia's Malays
Mak Intan receiving an award from a Rotary Club representative for her work with stray animals.
Image via TMI
Her love and care for strays is second to none
Image via TMI
However, maintaining a shelter is no easy task. It's also expensive.
Currently, she is looking for a new place to set up her shelter
Recollecting when she first met Pak Mie, thr 68-year-old Mak Intan said she was still married to her first husband, Ramli Shafi'i, when they moved next door to Pak Mie's house in Alor Setar in the 70s
They tied the knot in 1989. Two years later, they opened their shelter and started rescuing homeless and sick animals in Alor Setar.
The couple had battled the odds together, standing up to condemnation, criticism and even slander for their kindness towards dogs, which are considered unclean by Muslims. Pak Mie died last March, aged 58, following a stroke.
But Mak Intan continues to care for their 700 dogs, 200 cats, four monkeys and two foxes at their Tanjung Bendahara shelter.
To help the shelter, donations can be made to Mak Intan's Public Bank account (68368860-36)
Image via Borneo Post
