Copter tragedy: Commander Muhamad Amir’s family did not expect this to be their last Raya

MUAR: The family of Commander Muhamad Amir Mohamad did not expect that this year’s Hari Raya would be the last time that the family would be gathering together.

According to Muhamad Amir’s younger sister, Marhamah Mohamad, her brother had returned home about a week before Hari Raya to celebrate the joyous day together with their siblings and parents.

“I’m the sixth of my nine siblings, and it has been an annual family routine for us to return home for Hari Raya because not everyone is staying in Johor.

“Some of us are in Melaka, Sabah, Negri Sembilan, and Selangor,” she said when met at their house in Felcra Bukit Kepong, here on Wednesday (April 24).

She added that her late brother has been in the TLDM for more than 20 years and is close to the family.

A visit to the family home finds that all Muhamad Amir’s siblings and parents, Mohamad Borak, 71, and Napkiah Ahmad, 71, including their relatives, have been gathering at the house since early morning.

The body is expected to be brought to Masjid Al-Muqorobbin Felcra Bukit Kepong for funeral prayers before being laid to rest at Felcra Bukit Kepong Muslim Cemetery.

Muhamad Amir, who was the Commanding Officer of Squadron 502, leaves behind wife Marliati Basri, 40, and three children.

He was among 10 Navy personnel who died when two helicopters collided and crashed at the TLDM Base in Lumut, Perak, at 9.32am on Tuesday (April 23).

In the incident, 10 RMN personnel were killed when two TLDM helicopters crashed in Lumut while conducting a third rehearsal for a flypast in conjunction with the 90th Naval Day, scheduled to be held this Saturday (April 27).

The 10 navy crew members killed in the crash are Squadron 502 commanding officer Commander Muhamad Amir Mohamad; Lieutenant T Sivasutan (Squadron 502 pilot); and Warrant Officer II Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Termizi (Squadron 502 Air Quartermaster).

Others killed were Squadron 503 Commanding Officer Commander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli; Lt Commander Wan Rezaudeen Kamal Zainal Abidin; Squadron 503 Air Tactical Officer, Lt Commander Mohammad Amirulfaris Mohd Marzukhi; and Squadron 503 Air Quartermaster Warrant Officer II Muhammad Faisol Tamadun.

The three women killed in the collision were Able Seaman I Joanna Felicia Rohna from the TLDM Air Base, Warrant Officer II Norfarahimi Saedy (West Armada Supply Depot) as well as Petty Officer Nor Rahiza Anuar (West Armada Supply Depot).