63-Year-Old Grave Digger Who Digs 40 Graves A Day Receives Best Frontliner Award From JAWI

By Ameera Rosli  •  12 Aug 2021 in News

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The death toll has been rising at an alarming pace and since we’ve all been battling Covid-19 for close to two years now, the numbness is beginning to sink in and we start to view the numbers as merely statistics.

But the daily KKM infographics are not just statistics, they’re real people.

They’re people with families who have been forced into mourning and parents of children who are now orphans. Those numbers are a grim reminder of the serious repercussions of this virus and sometimes we need to take a step back to remember that.

However, the people who don’t need reminding are our frontliners who stand in the face of death every day.

One such name is Roslee Ali, a 63-year-old grave digger of the Raudhatul Sakinah Islamic graveyard in Gombak, who has now been awarded the Anugerah Tokoh Frontliner Khas Ma’al Hijrah Peringkat Wilayah Persekutuan (Best Frontliner Award for Ma’al Hijrah in Wilayah Persekutuan).

Roslee was selected due to his immense contribution in burials during the pandemic. He digs over 40 graves in a day.

Director of Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi), Datuk Mohd Ajib Ismail stated that the category was introduced this year and it was awarded to Roslee to remember his virtuous service to the community. According to him, Roslee had been digging graves since 2011.

All leaders within the Ma’al Hijrah awards are selected based on their capability to lead as well as their contributions to the community and to their state. All winners receive prizes such as money, certificates and plaques.

It’s an important time to appreciate those who work tirelessly to maintain balance and normalcy in a time where everything seems to be out of place.

Roslee’s contribution may not make major headlines but it does not mean that his work goes unappreciated.