At 102, Tok Saimah swears by simple food and steady routines

At the young age of 102, Saimah Sajiman still prefers the kind of food she has enjoyed for years – simple dishes, plenty of vegetables, and meals eaten at regular hours.

Better known as Tok Saimah, the centenarian from Kampung Rahmat in Sri Lalang here has a particular fondness for boiled and steamed dishes, although she does not completely avoid other types of food.

“I prefer boiled food such as sayur bening, ikan pais and traditional village ulam,” she told Bernama at her home. “But this does not mean I don’t like fried foods, too.”

Born in 1924, Tok Saimah was active in gardening when she was younger and has continued to keep a steady daily routine as she has grown older.

Her mealtimes, in particular, rarely change. Breakfast is usually something light between 8am and 9am, while lunch comes before Zohor prayers and dinner before Isyak.

For her daughter, Fatimah Surip, seeing her mother remain relatively well at such an advanced age is something she does not take for granted.

Fatimah, 78, said her mum does not have any chronic illnesses, although her hearing is not as sharp as it once was. She can still stand while performing her prayers, but generally prefers using a wheelchair to move around.

“If you want to converse with her, you have to speak a little louder,” Fatimah explained.

Family life around Tok Saimah is a busy one: she has more than 20 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren, spanning generations that grew up in a very different Malaysia from the one she knew as a young woman.

She has lived through the Japanese occupation, British colonial rule and the communist insurgency, giving her memories that stretch across some of the country’s most turbulent periods.

And fun fact: Tok Saimah recently drew attention on social media after receiving a visit from Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, at her home!

But beyond the attention that comes with being over a century old, her days remain rooted in the same ordinary habits she has followed for decades – familiar food, regular prayers, and a routine that has long given shape to everyday life.

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