MARANG: “I never expected them to be together until the end of their lives,” said Muhammad Haziq Adha Abdul Rahim, 19, the son of Abdul Rahim Mustaffa, 47, and Norhasriah Che Osman, 46, who drowned at Merchang beach yesterday.
Muhammad Haziq, the couple’s fourth child, said that in life, his late father and mother were always together wherever they went, including when going out to sea to catch fish.
His father often went to sea after ending his service with the Royal Malaysian Navy in Lumut in 2019.
“Their bond of love was very strong, and even today they left together for eternity. I never expected their love would last until the very end,” he said when met at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital mortuary in Kuala Terengganu last night.
The sudden death of the couple, Abdul Rahim Mustaffa, 47, and Norhasriah Che Osman, 46, instantly made Haziq and his five siblings orphans.
His siblings are Nur Nadhirah, 26, a teacher; Muhammad Aniq Arsyad, 24, a navy personnel in Lumut; Nur Nabilah, 23, a TNB staff in Selangor; Nur Najihah, 16; and the youngest, Nur Nazirah, 15.
“The simultaneous passing of both parents changed our lives, which were always filled with their love. They were very kind and always cared for the family. Their absence is deeply felt,” said Haziq.
“Although sad, I accept it because all that has happened is Allah’s will.”
He said he did not know his parents had gone out to sea, as the matter was only informed to his sister before they left at 7.45am. Later, he received a call that a boat, believed to be his father’s, was found capsized at sea at 3pm.
“I then went straight to the Merchang jetty and suspected something bad had happened,” he said.
He added that their pet cat, Puyeng, had recently shown unusual behaviour.
“Every night Puyeng sleeps with me, but lately she often went into my parents’ room. When this tragedy occurred, I realised she wanted to accompany them, as if she already knew,” he said.
Rahim and Norhasriah, from Kampung Pulau Kerengga, were found drowned by local fishermen after their fibreglass boat capsized.
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