No rest for mum till she sees her son in hospital
GEORGE TOWN: “The first thing I intend to do (when I reach Christchurch) is to go to the hospital and see my son’s condition. As long as I don’t see him personally, I will not be at ease.”
These were the words of Rokiah Mohammad, 65, the mother of Rahimi Ahmad, 39, one of three Malaysians injured in the terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday.
Rokiah, along with her son, Rosdi, 42, had left for Christchurch yesterday.
They were accompanied by state Caring Society and Welfare Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh and Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Aziz Mahathir, who have been chosen to represent the Penang government in dealing with Christchurch officials.
Before leaving, Rokiah said she could not sleep as she kept thinking about the tragedy.
“Many things came to mind. I kept imagining the whole incident. I just want to be with my Rahimi now,” she said.
Rosdi said he had spoken to Rahimi’s wife, Noor Azila Mohammad, 39, at 9am yesterday.
“She told me that my brother had been wheeled into the operating theatre to undergo a second operation to remove a bullet from his spine.”
Rahimi had a bullet removed from his stomach yesterday.
“She could not talk much as she is traumatised by the whole event. All she said was Rahimi was stable but unconscious.
“She also told me her son, Ahmad Razif, 11, who was in the mosque compound at the time of the incident was traumatised and needed a lot of support,” he said.
Rosdi said Razif had been returned to his mother yesterday.
“We are concerned about his condition. We just want to be there to hear what the doctor says. I want to thank everyone, especially the Penang government, for making this trip possible. Thanks to all, we can go to Christchurch,” he said.
“I thought this only happens in television. I never thought it will happen to my brother.”
Rosdi, who works as a technician, will be in Christchurch with his mother for a month. Phee and Azrul will return on March 20.
Phee thanked the agencies and airline for helping in the arrangements for the trip.
Rahimi has been working as an engineer in a milk factory in Christchurch for the past four years. He is there with his wife and two children.