Agony. That is what Mohd Tarmizi Ismail feels every time he is asked the same question about his wife, Hamfazlin Sham Mohamed Arifin, the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) stewardess who died in the MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine, last year.
Almost a year later, the father to Alif Hazim, three, and Alif Haiqal, nine, admitted that he still could not hide his despair and sadness when “bombarded” with questions which forced him to relive the dark moments following the July 17, 2014 tragedy.
“I am grateful to be surrounded by caring people who look out for my family.
“Although I have to be strong and go on with life, it sometimes hurts when I have to relive the moments of the tragedy," he told Bernama in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Hamfazlin Sham was among 298 crew members and passengers killed in the MH17 tragedy while the aircraft was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam.
The victims of the 777-200 Boeing aircraft crash after it was shot down in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, included 44 Malaysians and the rest were Dutch, Australian, Indonesian, British, German, Belgian, Philippine, Canadian and New Zealand nationals.
Aug 22, 2014 was a day of mourning for the nation which paid its last respects to the victims.
On Saturday, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said a special ceremony would be held at Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport (KLIA), to commemorate the first anniversary of the tragedy.
Mohd Tarmizi said his eldest son understood why Hamfazlin was no longer present.
“Only my younger son who is just learning to talk, constantly asks me ‘where is mother’, ‘when is mother coming home?’,” he said, adding that each week he would take his sons to visit Hamfazlin’s grave.
He hoped the government would speed up the investigations into the MH17 crash and always keep the victims’ family members informed.
Getting stronger in facing life
Meanwhile, the family members of MH17 pilot Wan Amran Wan Hussin, are getting stronger in facing life and have accepted his fate.
According to his nephew, Amaluddin Noorshah, 49, he was constantly in touch with Wan Amran’s wife and children who lived in Shah Alam to give them moral support.
“Each time there is a family gathering, we feel his absence, especially now that it is almost Raya, as he used to handle everything (preparations).
“We accept this test, but only that we hope the investigation report (on the MH17 crash) is announced soon,” he said.
Both Amaluddin and Mohd Tarmizi hoped that their loved ones would get justice and those responsible for the tragedy be punished accordingly.
Meanwhile, Liow said a delay in payment of compensation to the next-of-kin of victims of the Flight MH17 tragedy is due to time taken in identifying the legitimate heirs.
He said MAS must first study the background of the legitimate beneficiaries of the compensation payments before the money was channelled to them.
“I understand that many have received the payments and only a few families have not yet been identified for this purpose.
“The matter should be dealt with by MAS as soon as possible,” he told reporters after officially opening the annual general meeting of the Gopeng MCA Youth and Wanita divisions yesterday.
- Bernama
