SIK: The sister of Muhammad Faisol, 38, one of 10 Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officers who died in a helicopter crash in Lumut earlier today, didn't expect her youngest brother's picture taken during Hari Raya Aidilfitri to be their last memory.
Noryani Tamadun, 50, the eldest of four siblings, recalled their last family gathering on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
She said her brother had expressed concern about not having enough time to enjoy rice with fried eggs and salted fish.
"My brother wanted to have rice with fried eggs and salted fish. He said he was afraid he wouldn't have time to enjoy it again.
"When he said he was worried that he had no time to eat anymore, I wondered why he said that.
"Moreover, on the morning of Hari Raya, he suggested taking a picture together, just the three of us siblings.
"My other sister, who works as a police officer in Pahang, hadn't arrived yet.
"He said, 'Let's take a picture first, in case one of us is missing. If you (referring to the other sister) miss it, you can catch up later.
"He said this might be our last picture together. I found it strange why he said one of us would be missing.
"When he was leaving, he said, 'This might be our last meeting.' Today, everything makes sense," said Noryani when met at her Kampung Tanjung home here today.
Noryani said she had come to terms with her brother's death today after their parents passed away in January and August last year.
She said her brother, affectionately called Adik Mat, was close to his siblings and planned to retire in two years.
"He was expected to return to duty in Lumut by the end of this year, and then retire in two years to live in our family home in Kampung Tanah Hitam.
"He received the house from our father, and he wanted to turn it into a homestay before retiring," said Noryani, who is a nasi lemak trader.
Noryani said her brother was eager to attend training at the RMN Lumut base in Perak as he could be with his wife, Nor Syuhada, 39, who teaches at Sri Iskandar.
"He also invited us to watch a performance for the Navy's 90th anniversary celebrations early next month, but I told him we couldn't go because it was too far," she said.
Noryani said her brother's body would be buried at the Tanah Perkuburan Islam Sik Dalam here.
The late Faisol leaves behind a wife and two daughters aged 10 and 6.
Earlier today, two Malaysian Armed Forces helicopters crashed following a mid-air collision in Lumut, Perak.
All 10 crew members, which include various ranks, in both in the crash.
The helicopter, an Agusta Westland AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM) and a Eurocopter Fennec, had collided during a mid-air manoeuvre during a flypast training for the RMN's 90th-anniversary celebrations.
Following the mid-air collision, the AW139 HOM helicopter crashed at the steps of the Navy Stadium while the Fennec crashed near the pool of the Navy Sports Complex.
