YAN: Petty Officer TNL Noor Rahiza Anuar, was in a joyous mood during this year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri, more so than ever, said her eldest brother Abdul Latif, 46.
Abdul Latif recalled how his sister, the third of five siblings, took the lead in adorning their father's house with new curtains and preparing the meals on Hari Raya.
Little did he know, it was a foreshadowing of events to come.
"Rahiza seemed the happiest during this Hari Raya, handling everything from curtains to cooking for us on the morning of Hari Raya.
"She took many videos and shared them on our family WhatsApp group, as if she knew she'd be celebrating with us all for the last time.
"This year, all five siblings gathered to celebrate Hari Raya with our father, Anuar Hassan, who is in his 70s, as our mother passed away last year," he said when met at their father's home near Jalan Pantai Murni here today.
Sadly, Rahiza, 39, was among the 10 Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officers who perished in a helicopter crash in Lumut earlier today.
Abdul Latif said that Rahiza's absence would be deeply felt, especially by their father, who is suffering from Parkinson's disease.
"Despite her duties in Lumut, she always made time to care for our father, being his favorite child.
"We accept her passing as fate. She was always the cheerful one, bringing light to our family," said Abdul Latif, a civil servant.
He recounted finding out about his sister's fate after being contacted by Rahiza's husband earlier in the morning.
"My brother in law told me, 'Brother, Ija (Rahiza's nickname) was in a helicopter crash.
"I was stunned, thinking it was a bad dream," he said.
Abdul Latif said that the family plans to bury Rahiza's body at the Kampung Ruat Islamic Cemetery in Yan.
Rahiza leaves behind a husband and four children.
Earlier today, two armed forces helicopters crashed following a mid-air collision in Lumut, Perak.
All 10 crew in both helicopters perished.
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 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.
