Relatives of crash victim fly to Christchurch for funeral
Relatives of a Malaysian student killed in a crash near Lake Tekapo that claimed four lives travelled to Christchurch for his funeral yesterday.
Megat Ashman Aqif Megat Irman Jefni, 21, was buried at a Muslim cemetery in the city following his death at the weekend.
He was in a vehicle with four other students when it was involved in a crash with two other vehicles on State Highway 8 at Pukaki between Hayman and Tekapo Canal roads on Saturday.
His companion, Wan Nur Adlina Alisa – a fellow 21-year-old student at the University of Canterbury – also died at the scene, as did a motorcyclist. A person in the other vehicle died later in hospital.
Malaysian High Commissioner Mazira Marzuki described the two students as “good friends”. “They are highly respected, very likeable, active, and good students,” she added.
Megat was studying on a Malaysian government scholarship, Marzuki said.
She confirmed that relatives of Wan have also flown to Christchurch.
Speaking to Malaysian media on Tuesday, Megat’s grandmother said his father, mother, and sister would arrive in Christchurch for the funeral. He was due to be laid to rest at the Muslim cemetery in Bromley at 3pm yesterday.
“We, his family have accepted his passing and also that he will be buried there,” said Megat’s grandmother, Nor Hanita Meor Mohd Nor. “When [his father] was headed there [to New Zealand] I did say it would be best for him to be laid to rest there.”
Marzuki confirmed “heaps of people” attended Megat Ashman Aqif Megat Irman Jefni’s funeral. She said they included family, friends and University of Canterbury officials. His parents have conveyed their gratitude to everyone involved, “especially the High Commission, the university and all the Malaysian community that came through to assist up until the burial”, she said.