ALOR SETAR - A couple, who recently went viral for riding a motorcycle with their 11-month-old baby boy on a ventilator, admitted feeling stressed by allegations that they had disappeared.
Mohd Azlan Ishak, 36, when contacted said that he was actually in the process of managing his wedding arrangements over the past few days.
He said on Sunday, he went to Al-Makrufi Mosque in Alor Setar, Kedah, to seek assistance in filling out the marriage forms, and on Monday, he went to the clinic for blood tests and an HIV screening.
"If everything is completed today (Monday), tomorrow I will marry my partner.
"The mosque officials said if all the paperwork is done early, the marriage ceremony can be expedited, Alhamdulillah," he said.
He added that many parties had come forward to help facilitate the marriage process with his partner Nor Hidayu Halim, 34, and they were now in the final phase.
Azlan admitted that although he had made mistakes, he hoped that the public would not judge and give negative opinions about his family, including his son, who had a chronic illness.
Azlan also emphasised that he did not leave his mother alone as some had claimed.
"At one point, I did feel like giving up, but I had to accept it and toughen up. People are making baseless assumptions about things that did not happen.
"Come and see us directly to understand the real situation. I do not get angry if people ask, and I will be honest. Don't make assumptions on your own.
"Some say I abandoned my sick mother, but even though I'm not highly educated, I still have common sense and would never leave my mother.
"I need to be patient for my child because I have been through very tough times before. Before this, I had nothing besides my child right in front of me," he said on Monday.
Meanwhile, Azlan said Hidayu had divorced her former husband in August 2023 and had completed her 'iddah' period.
He said that they had gone to the religious office to file for divorce, but the process was stalled because they could not afford to pay the RM60 fee to complete the divorce form due to financial difficulties.
Responding to allegations that Hidayu had purchased jewelry worth up to RM20,000, Azlan denied the claims.
"I don't know where they got such information because Hidayu only bought an RM800 ring for the wedding, which was purchased by her (to-be) mother-in-law, and there is a receipt.
"They also claimed our child had received donations amounting to RM200,000.
"I don't know where that amount came from because I have not checked the bank yet.
"Currently, we are still using the donations given by people who came to the house," he said.
On Sunday, the viral couple with an 11-month-old baby who relied on a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine due to chronic lung disease, were said to be married soon.
Al-Maarufi Mosque Qariah Seberang Kota chairman Muhammad Hazamer Mualim said the 36-year-old man came to his office at the mosque at pm to submit documents related to his marriage.
He said several documents were submitted by the man to fill out the marriage forms with his 35-year-old partner.