ALOR GAJAH, July 19 — Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 chief steward Mohamad Ghafar Abu Bakar had sought forgiveness from his mother Maimon Sarpan for not being able to come home for the Hari Raya celebration due to his work commitment.
But none of his family members would have thought Mohamad Ghafar, 54, could not make it home because flight MH17, which was enroute to Kuala Lumpur from
Amsterdam, had crashed in Ukraine.
Maimon, 74, said the last time her eldest child returned to their kampung at Kampung Seri Tanjung, Masjid Tanah here was last Monday to break fast with the family and managed to seek her forgiveness for not being able to celebrate Hari Raya together as he would be on duty in China.
“My son gave ‘duit raya’ to his nephews and nieces as well as myself because he will not be coming back for the festival…I am at a loss and totally devastated to think about my son,” she told reporters at her house in Kampung Seri Tanjung, Masjid Tanah here yesterday.
Mohamad Ghafar was among 15 crew members aboard flight MH17 that lost contact at about 12.15 noon (Amsterdam time) 30 km from Tamak waypoint, about 50 km from the Ukraine-Russia border.
The Boeing 777 was carrying 298 people, 283 passengers and 15 crew, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said early today that Ukrainian authorities believe that it was shot down.
Maimon said she learnt about the tragedy that had befallen her son, who is fondly called ‘Salem’ from her daughter-in-law Normi Abdullah, 54, at mid-night. “My daughter-in-law called me and asked me to switch on the television to watch the news as my son’s plane has crashed. Actually I am very shocked but have accepted God’s will,” she said.
She had last spoken to Mohamad Ghafar on the phone last Tuesday and was told by her son he would be leaving for Amsterdam the day after for work. “There was nothing abnormal when I saw my son. I gave birth to him on a Friday and God loves him and took him away also on a Friday.” she added.
– BERNAMA
