M’sian in UK favourite with students succumbs to covid

LONDON: A Malaysian grandmother, Melina Goldsmith (pic), 53, has died of Covid-19, after contracting the killer disease earlier last month.

Melina or Hasni Hassan moved from Penang to England 25 years ago and met her husband Peter, eight years ago. Both tested positive, but Peter recovered after two days. 

They were both treated at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. The couple lived in the Teesside town.

The death was reported in the local newspaper, Teesside Live. When contacted, Peter or Mohammed Firdaus Goldsmith, said: 

“She was one in a hundred million, totally selfless and would do anything for anybody. My home wasn’t a home before I met her and then our home became an open house for everyone, especially Malaysian students here.”

Still reeling from the loss of his beloved wife, Peter broke down but added that Mel, as she was known, had a big personality who touched many people’s lives.

“She loved to cook, and students came not just from here but also from Liverpool,” said Peter about his wife, who was a chef in many restaurants and had cooked for Mamak Don here.

“Our house was like an open house for Eid, for special prayers and also Christmas.

“One of the students, who regarded herself as one of Mel’s children, was Business and Fashion student Maziah Nabzirah Mohd Ghazali, 22.

“We, Malaysian students here, were like her children. She was well known among my seniors here before,” said Maziah, who knew her only very briefly since she came to study at Teesside University, but became close to her because of their shared interest in P. Ramlee movies.

“In her free time, she would call us to eat at her house. We would talk about the films and sing,” said Maziah, who was among some Malaysians who attended the funeral.

Melina’s passing has left a big void in many people’s lives.

She was buried at Jamia Masjid Al-Madina Mosque in Middlesbrough on Jan 29.

She leaves a daughter, Siti Liyana Mohd Abu Salleh, 34, and a son, Muhammad Zulkarnain Mohd Abu Salleh, 32, and three grandchildren, who are all in Malaysia.