SUNGAI PETANI: A filial son and a strict but caring eldest child.
That is how the family of Muhammad Hafiz Mohd Salleh, 32, a delivery rider who was killed in the plane crash tragedy near Elmina, Shah Alam on Aug 17, described the deceased.
His father, Mohd Salleh Othman, 57, said all his life, Hafiz had always put the family above everything else.
"Even after he is gone, he still provides for us," said the father of five while holding back tears.
Salleh was met after a visit by Social Security Organisation (Socso) group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed to their home in Taman Sidam Kiri here today.
Also present were Hafiz's mother Jamilah Ismail, 53, and his sister Norhikmah, 26.
During the visit, Azman presented RM2,000 to the family as part of Socso's funeral allowance benefit.
He also informed the family that they would be receiving a combined monthly pension of RM1,894.75 from Hafiz's contributions under two Socso schemes.
Salleh thanked Socso and others, including Hafiz's fellow delivery riders who had been helping the family since the day of the incident.
"He was a responsible big brother. He was strict towards his siblings because he really cared for them. He wanted the best for them, particularly their education," he said.
Salleh added that his wife and him were adjusting to the reality that Hafiz is gone.
"We really miss him. I am still coming to terms with his sudden passing. It is hard but we will have to get used to it," he said.
In the Aug 17 incident, a six-seater Beechcraft Model 390 (Premier 1) bearing registration number N28JV crashed near Elmina during its approach into Subang Airport from Langkawi.
The crash killed all eight people onboard and two road users.
Among them was Pahang Local Government, Housing, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun.
Hafiz's remains were laid to rest at Masjid Al-Huda Muslim cemetery in Kampung Sungai Jerong here on Aug 19.
