Officer recalls Mona Fandey’s love for singing Raya songs

Compiled by ELISHA MARY EASTER and C. ARUNO

THE notorious singer and bomoh Mona Fandey, who was executed for murder, would sing her favourite songs on the first day of Hari Raya during her time in Kajang women’s prison, Harian Metro reported.

“Once, I celebrated the first day of Syawal with her. We marked the occasion in a bright mood and we chatted with one another,” said prison officer Norizan Hamid, 52.

Mona would sing her favourite tunes to ease her boredom, she said, adding that she would also read the Quran “day and night”.

She said Mona’s voice sounded like a true-blue entertainer.

Mona was executed in 2001 for the murder of Batu Talam state assemblyman Mazlan Idris in 1993. Her trial in the 1990s had gripped the nation.

Norizan, who worked in the Kajang women’s prison for nine years, also spoke about her experience when she was assigned to the death row cell.

She said special care was needed for prisoners on death row.

“It is most important that the chicken and fish dishes were without bones, for safety reasons,” said Norizan, who is now with the Bentong Prison pastry workshop.

> Muhamad Hafiz Ierfan Rosli, 26, earns around RM25,000 a month by selling burgers in front of Masjid Temenggong Daeng Abdul Rahman in his hometown in Pontian, Johor, Kosmo! reported.

The former student of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in Kota Kinabalu, who graduated with a degree in Islamic Studies, returned to his hometown last year.

In August last year, Muhamad Hafiz also ventured into the business of processing burger patties under the brand Burger BAE at a small processing plant with five workers located at Jalan Kampung Lama.

It produces three types of burger patties, namely beef, chicken and mutton.

“I decided to go into the business of processing burger patties as there was a high demand, although there are many others in the market.

“I operated a burger stall when I was a student at UMS to earn some pocket money as well as to pick up the intricacies of a business that has the potential to go big,” said Muhamad Hafiz.

He said he invested RM30,000 to buy machines and equipment, such as a meat processing blender and packing machine, for the plant.

“Due to my interest in the field of food processing, I am willing to learn from other burger patty makers to come up with the best products that meet the taste of customers,” he added.

The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.