MMEA Officer’s Last Birthday Celebration Becomes Cherished Memory For Mother

KANGAR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The unusual enthusiasm shown by her son in celebrating his birthday with the family on Sept 11 has become an unforgettable memory for the mother of a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer who died during an enforcement operation in the waters off Kuala Sungai Padang in Kuala Perlis last night.

Hamidah Abd Kadir, 63, said her second child of three siblings, Technical Leading Seaman Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, 41, rarely made a big occasion of his birthday, but this year was different. 

“Roshaimi’s birthday celebration was held at my house in Sungai Petani, Kedah, with the whole family gathering to celebrate his special day. 

“That night, we all gathered and took photographs together. Little did we know that this year’s birthday celebration would be the last time we would be together with Roshaimi,” she told reporters here today. 

Hamidah said she had also fulfilled Mohd Roshaimi’s request for a cheesecake for his birthday. 

“He wanted a cheesecake, so I bought one for him,” she said. 

Earlier today, it was reported that an MMEA officer had died while three others were injured in a boat collision during an enforcement operation in the waters off Kuala Sungai Padang in Kuala Perlis last night. 

MMEA Kedah and Perlis director, First Admiral (Maritime) Romli Mustafa, was quoted as saying that the incident occurred at 11.37 pm when five MMEA officers were attempting to intercept a boat suspected of carrying illegal immigrants from Myanmar. 

Meanwhile, the deceased’s wife, Sajaratul Akmal Abdul Shukor, 41, said they had been living apart due to work commitments, and she resided in Kuala Nerang, Kedah, with their two sons, aged 11 and 14. 

Sajaratul Akmal said she was informed of the incident involving her husband by the MMEA at about 3 am via a telephone call. 

“I was in shock when I learnt what had happened to my husband. I then woke up our two children and told them that their father had died,” she said. 

Mohd Roshaimi’s eldest son, Rayyan Shakimi, 14, said his father often offered advice and prayed for the family’s well-being, adding that he was deeply saddened by his father’s passing.

-- BERNAMA