His younger brother, Abdul Malik Daim, 43, died on May 22 at the Covid-19 quarantine and low-risk treatment centre at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
The next day, his beloved mother, Patimah Babu, 75, died at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
What made it even more painful for him was his seven other family members, including his wife and three children, have also been confirmed to be Covid-19 positive, after experiencing fever and cough on the third day of Hari Raya.
Rahim said he never expected that this year would be the last Hari Raya celebration for his late mother and brother.
“We went for a screening test at a private clinic and the thing I dreaded the most finally happened when my mother and several other family members tested positive.
“Only my daughter and I tested negative.
“We received the results on May 18 and I sent all my family members who tested positive for the virus to the Covid-19 Assessment Centre (CAC) at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam the next morning,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
Rahim said his mother, who had diabetes, kidney complications and breathing problems, was then taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital and his brother was sent to MAEPS.
“The rest of his family members were placed under a home quarantine order.
“I contacted my brother on May 22, as he had asked me to send some clothes and a prayer mat, but my phone call was left unanswered.
“A few moments later, I received a call, informing me about my brother’s death and asking me to come to the Serdang Hospital.
“My brother died while being taken to the hospital. They had tried their best to save him but Allah loves him more,” said the Media Prima Berhad staff member.
Less than 24 hours later, Rahim said he received another phone call from the Sungai Buloh Hospital, informing him that his mother was in a critical condition.
“My family and I had a video call with my mother the day before and that was our last conversation before she was confirmed dead around 2am,” he said.
The bodies of Malik and Patimah were laid to rest at the USJ 22 Muslim Cemetery in Subang Jaya on Sunday.
Asked about the source of Covid-19 infections that had claimed the lives of his mother and brother, Rahim said he was not sure where it might have come from.
However, he said he used to regularly visit his mother, who lived about 3km away from his house, to send groceries.
“This has become an unforgettable lesson to me and my family.
“Therefore, I would like to advise all Malaysians not to be complacent in observing the standard SOPs set by the government as we do not know where the Covid-19 can come from,” he said.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DATA ON THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA