Wife can’t wait to be reunited with hubby
TAWAU: Mohd Ridzuan Ismail’s wife could not hold back her tears when she learned that her husband was among three hostages rescued by the Philippines security forces on Sunday.
Hariyanti Hamsi, 31, said she had hoped the kidnappers would release her husband and his two colleagues — Fandy Bakran, 27, and Mohd Jumadil Rahim, 24 — after two Malaysian hostages were rescued last Thursday.
“It has been eight months and I did not lose hope. When I found out about his rescue, I was shocked and happy.
“We have missed him so much. Our 3-year-old daughter never stopped asking about him. She had told me every day that her father would return home soon.
“I hope our reunion will be arranged as soon as possible,” she said at her home in Kampung Otentik, Tanjung Batu Keramat, yesterday.
When asked about the risks involved in her husband’s job, Hariyanti sighed and said she was still traumatised by the kidnapping.
“If it were up to me, I would not want him to work at sea anymore. We will definitely sit together to discuss this matter but not so soon,” she said.
Efforts to speak to Fandy and Jumadil’s families at their respective homes in Kampung Tanjung Batu and Taman Ria failed as they were not home.
Jumadil’s neighbour, Nuriyanti Anwar, 32, said she learned about the rescue on Harian Metro’s online news portal and rushed to her neighbour’s house to share the good news.
“But they were not at home. I am happy that all of them are safe. I am sure everyone here is waiting for him to return. There will be a lot of catching up to do but, of course, we will respect their privacy.
In Kuantan, Ridzuan’s brother said he hoped Ridzuan would leave Tawau, Sabah, and return to Felda Jengka 7 in Maran, Pahang, with his wife and three children.
Mohd Raisuddin, 31, said Ridzuan moved to Sabah several years ago after his father-in-law secured him a job.
“Since the salary was promising, Ridzuan remained in Sabah, even when I advised him to come home following a series of kidnapping incidents in Lahad Datu. But he told me he wanted to earn more before returning to Pahang.
“I am glad that my brother is coming home. The Felda villagers here are overjoyed, too, and we are planning a special doa selamat when he returns.”