SIK: "It was our last time celebrating Hari Raya together."
Those were the words uttered by Norsyuhada Jamil, 37, the widow of Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officer Muhammad Faisol, 38, as the hearse containing his remains arrived in Kampung Tanjung here.
Norsyuhada was heard repeating the words as some relatives hugged and consoled her as she arrived from the 23rd Battalion Regiment of the Royal Malay Regiment in Ipoh, Perak about 8.55pm.
Some 200 mourners were seen gathering at the location as the body was taken into late Faisol's sister's home to allowfamily members to pay their last respects.
His eldest daughter Nor Sya Indah Aulia, 10, was seen being consoled by the victim's sister Noryani Tamadun, 50, as they stood next to the hearse.
The remains of the Warrant Offcer was later taken to Masjid Al-Muhtahdin in Sik Dalam for final prayers.
It was a solemn moment as over 2,000 mourners gathered at the mosque to receive the body with over 500 congregants taking part in the final prayers prior to the funeral ceremony held in a steep military tradition.
Faisol's remains were laid to rest next to his parents' graves at the cemetery.
Meanwhile, Noryani expressed the family's gratitude to the RMN and everyone who have facilitated the funeral arrangements.
"Many family members and friends have been visiting us since Wednesday afternoon to extend their condolences.
"We are thankful to all Navy officers and everyone who were have facilitated the funeral arrangements," she said when met at her home earlier.
Faisol was among the 10 individuals tragically killed in a mid-air collision involving two helicopters at the RMN base in Lumut yesterday.
He is survived by a wife and two daughters aged 10 and 6.
Earlier today, the post-mortem examinations of all 10 victims were concluded at 2.20pm.
Subsequently, the bodies of the Muslim victims were transported to the 23rd Battalion Regiment of the Royal Malay Regiment in Ipoh for funeral prayers.
In the incident, two armed forces helicopters crashed following a mid-air collision in Lumut, Perak.
All 10 crew members perished 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.
