‘SISTER SAID NOTHING OF WANNDY’S DEATH’
Distant relative in Malacca says she’s heard no news about his passing
KELLY KOH
ALOR GAJAH kelly.koh@nst.com.my
TWEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2017
HE death of an Malaysian Islamic State (IS) operative, Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi reportedly killed in a drone attack in Syria, remains a mystery to his relatives in Malacca.
The New Straits Times visited his former home, where he grew up, in Jalan Bukit Tambun, Durian Tunggal, and noted that it was now occupied by his distant relative.
Esah Abdullah, 72, who has been renting the house since last November, said she was unaware of the news of Wanndy’s death.
“I have been renting this home since November and I deal with Wanndy’s younger sister, who goes by the name of Diana.
“The last time I saw her was on April 29, when she came to collect the rental of RM120 from me.
“She did not speak much. Our conversation lasted less than 10 minutes.
“She only mentioned that her mother-in-law was unwell,” she said here yesterday.
Esah said Diana, a food operator, had not said a word about Wanndy or any news of him in Syria.
“I only heard of Wanndy’s involvement in terrorism before this from Diana’s husband, who is a contract worker.”
Besides this house, Wanndy’s family home is also in Jalan Bukit Tambunand was previously owned by his late mother, who died four years ago.
One is left vacant and another, which was previously left unattended, is now occupied by Esah and her family.
Esah added that Diana would sometimes come to clean the vacant home, which was recently coated with new pink paint.
“When we first came here, we were often visited by the police as this house had been a haven for drug addicts and glue sniffers,” said Esah, who lives with her husband, Hashim Jalil, 81, and their disabled daughter, Saripah Hashim, 50.
It was reported on Monday that Wanndy was killed in a drone attack in Ma’dan, Syria, on Saturday.
His comrade, whose nationality is unknown, was also killed.
News of the 27-year-old terrorist’s death was shared by his wife, Nor Mahmudah Ahmad, 28, on her Facebook page.
However, sources told the NST that although Wanndy’s wife had posted about his death, intelligence teams were investigating whether the news was a ploy by Wanndy to deceive people into thinking that he had died.