Death takes toll on children

The Star

21-05-2025

Coping with grief: Noraini (second from right) speaking to Noor Hasliza (right) during a visit to her house in Bandar Baru Putra, near Ipoh. With them are deputy state speaker Jenny Choy and Noor Hasliza's mother-in-law Ruzita Razali, 59.
IPOH: The widow of a Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) member who was killed in a crash, shared the emotional toll his death has taken on their young children.
While her son is slowly coming to terms with the loss, her daughter continues to look for him.
In a heartfelt interview, 32-year-old Noor Hasliza Mohd Hadzri, wife of the late Kpl Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, 35, said her six-year-old son Mohamad Adam Harris has begun to understand that his father is no longer around. However, her one-year-old daughter, Nur Aqeela Nadine, is still searching for him.
'When I ask my son, he says that 'Babah' has passed away, Babah is in heaven.
'However, there are still moments when my son withdraws into silence.
'When I notice that, I will ask him, 'Are you okay? Don't be sad. If you are sad, recite Al-Fatihah,' Noor Hasliza told reporters after Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad paid her a visit at her house in Bandar Baru Putra near here yesterday.
Noor Hasliza, who works in the administration department at the district police headquarters here, said her daughter appears to be more visibly affected.
'She keeps crying and saying 'Babah', and looking for him.'
Still coming to terms with her loss, Noor Hasliza described her emotional state as fragile as she learns to navigate life without her husband.
She said that while she has accepted her husband's passing, the process of adjusting to a new reality has been far from easy.
'It will take some time for me to truly accept his sudden passing.
'I recall the moment I identified my husband's body, there was a sense of peace that surrounded him, even in death.
Noraini said the Welfare Department (JKM) would continue counselling support to the families of the FRU personnel.
JKM officers have already reached out to the families.
'Counselling is being provided through the police and JKM.
'The support from JKM will continue for as long as it is needed,' said Noraini.
'Some families have already received counselling, while others have been contacted or visited by officers,' she said.
Responding to reports that some children have yet to speak or show emotion, Noraini said JKM would assess their condition and provide necessary support.
'Counselling is available for both the children of the deceased and the injured personnel,' she said.
She added that initial emergency assistance of RM300 had been given to each affected family, with an additional RM1,000 provided through the National Welfare Foundation.
On May 13, the incident occur­red when a truck carrying 18 FRU Unit 5 members based in Sungai Senam, Ipoh, collided with a gra­vel-laden lorry that veered into the opposite lane.
The collision resulted in eight FRU members dying at the scene and one succumbing to injuries at Hospital Teluk Intan, while nine others were injured, some critically.
On the day in question, the FRU vehicle was returning to Ipoh along with six other FRU vehicles after completing duties in Teluk Intan.