WIDOW STILL STRUGGLING OVER LOSS
Husband killed in ‘wrong-way’ crash in March
RAMADAN has little meaning for Norasikin Abdul Halim this year. The 26-year-old nurse is struggling to cope with the loss of her husband, Mohamad Fandi Rosli.
Fandi was killed in the infamous Penang “wrong-way” crash, which saw his Perodua Kelisa being hit by a Proton Gen2 in the North-South Expressway in March.
“This was supposed to be our first year celebrating Ramadan together as husband and wife,” she said.
“We made a lot of plans but now, they’re meaningless.
“I don’t feel like celebrating Hari Raya,” said the expectant mother.
They were married three months before Fandi died at the scene of the accident.
The devastation drove her to apply for a transfer from Selayang Hospital in Selangor, to Kepala Batas Hospital in Seberang Prai Utara so that she could live near her in-laws’ home in Taman Rhu here.
Besides her parents, who live in Gunung Keriang, Alor Star, Norasikin found strength in the love rendered by Fandi’s parents, Noor Suriani Ismail, 47, and Rosli Lin, 57.
She thanked her former colleagues at Selayang Hospital for their emotional support during the difficult time, and the Health Ministry for approving her transfer.
“I was getting to know him. Fandi was a good husband. I still can’t believe I only had three months as his wife,” she said in tears.
Norasikin said she had imagined how happy she would be if Fandi was around, how they could break fast together and shop for Raya clothes.
“He told me that he wanted to take me to place an order for our baju kurung and baju Melayu for the festive period, but it is not meant to be,” she said.
On her pregnancy, Norasikin said she was trying her best to keep her emotions in check so that it would not affect the child.
Noor Suriani said there was deafening silence at her house this Ramadan, unlike when Fandi was around.
“He would be the one who bought the meals to break fast. He would make sure that everyone got the food they liked at the Ramadan bazaar.
“He helped out a lot at the kitchen in preparing cookies for Raya, but now, things are so quiet,” she said, holding back her tears.
She said her family was grateful that Norasikin’s application for a transfer had been approved weeks ago.
“It is good to have her here so that we can look after her and, at the same time, provide her with the emotional support.
“We want to do the best for her and the child she is carrying,” said Noor Suriani.
In the March 14 incident, Fandi, a factory technician, was driving home after completing his night shift when a 19-year-old teen drove against the traffic flow from Sungai Dua toll plaza in Butterworth before crashing into Fandi’s car near Permatang Pauh. The teen had since been charged over the fatal crash. Court proceedings are under way.