"A day before his death, an intense longing to see him came over me," said 76-year-old Md Yasin Md Deris, the father of Sergeant Mohd Arifah Md Yasin who was killed while chasing illegal racers at the Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway on Sunday.
Yasin shared his feeling with wife, Che Ah Md Lani, 76, who had been wanting to visit their son in Sepang before the accident, but had to put it on hold due to the movement restrictions.
The news of Arifah's death was a big blow to the family, as he was the youngest and was very close to his parents and seven older siblings.
The grieving father said the last time he met his son was three months ago, when Arifah dropped by the family home to visit his sick mother.
"He had been his normal self with a smile on his face and was easy to talk to, despite some considering him as the strong and silent type. No matter how busy he was, my son would try to visit us."
Arifah, who was attached with the Kajang Traffic Enforcement Investigation Division, and his colleague Constable Mohd Muradzi Mohd Nawi, 26, of the D4 Crime Division were reported to have been killed in a road accident while chasing after illegal racers at 1.30am during an operation dubbed Op Samseng Jalanan.
Yasin said his three grandsons — aged nine, five, and two-months old — had lost a loving father.
The sergeant's eldest brother, Mohd Aidil, said losing his youngest brother had been hard on the family.
However, he added that Arifah lost his life while serving the nation and during the Merdeka month.
"I am very proud of my late brother."
When Arifah's body arrived at the family home, everyone who was present could not hold back their tears. Also present was Melaka police chief Datuk Abdul Majid Mohd Ali.
Arifah was buried at the Tanah Wakaf Baru cemetery in Kampung Padang on Monday night.
