DAD THANKS ALL FOR CONCERN SHOWN
Victim’s father expresses gratitude for support
“THANK you... that is all I can say.” The loss of his daughter, Siti Nur Iesmawaida, in the earthquake in Lombok, Indonesia, on Sunday has left Ismail Abdul Raffar a dejected man.
But the support that the 62year-old had received since that fateful day had given him some measure of strength.
“Since the day the earthquake struck, my family, friends and Malaysians from all walks of life have been waiting to hear the latest developments regarding my late daughter. For that, I can only say ‘thank you’. You have all shown in your own way that you cared for her.
“I want to thank the Foreign Ministry for the help it has given me. In fact, (Foreign Minister) Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah himself has asked me how my family and I are doing, and whether we needed anything,” he said at Ar Rahimah Mosque in Kampung Pandan here, where the family was waiting for Siti Nur Iesmawida’s remains to be brought back.
Ismail, who appeared calm, began to tear up as soon as he began talking about his daughter, the second of three children.
“I didn’t know that my daughter had climbed the mountain (Mount Rinjani). Before this, I didn’t take an interest in her love for such activities. When I saw her friends were saddened by her death, only then did I know that many people loved her.”
Ismail said his daughter’s remains would be buried at the Batu Muda Muslim cemetery in Sentul after Maghrib prayers.