Captain Zainol Afiq family idol, his departure leaves deep sorrow

SEREMBAN, Sept 13: The departure of Allahyarham Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30, a pilot who was killed in a helicopter crash at Long Lellang, Baram, Sarawak, leaves deep grief to the entire family who described him as a hard-to-remove human being.

Allahyarham's half-brother, Hashim Mohd Harun, 58, said Zainol Afiq was not only a cousin and concerned family member, but also an idol to his siblings in the family due to her achievements and high personality.

"This is a very big loss for us. The spirit of a very successful person even at a young age, he managed to build a highly esteemed character and become an idol to other family members", she said when met with reporters in the Senawang New Town Mosque here today.

Hashim said that his nephew was a dedicated man and never took lightly any trust he held.

He said Allahyarham also loved the family very much and always maintained family relationships without discriminating between his own family or his wife's family.

"The spirit loves the family. To him, there was no difference between a wife's side of the family and her own. We are all united in a family that is quite harmonious", said one from Pahang.

Meanwhile, the pure personality of Allahyarham Zainol Afiq was also acknowledged by his classmate, Dr Muhammad Fauzan Baharum, 31, who described his friend's departure as an unacceptable surprise.

Dr. Muhammad Fauzan recognized the ghost from the fourth grade and described him as a very friendly, intelligent person, and never had any disagreements with either side.

"As long as I've known the ghost, he's never had a problem with anyone either junior or senior. She was a very kind person and always tried to help anyone who asked for help", he said.

Following the attendance, he paid his last respects to Dr Afifah Hidayah Ahmad Tawfek or Dr Fie, 36, who described the helicopter crash involving the healthcare worker as a great sacrifice that healthcare workers made in providing services to the community.

"I am very shocked and saddened by the passing of this country's hero. They are great people who have contributed so much to the country", he said.

As a former health officer serving in the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Afifah Hidayah said that the responsibility of health workers to channel medical services to rural areas, including using air transport and ambulances, is not easy and requires high courage and commitment.

"When you think about it, the challenge of taking a helicopter to rural areas for medicines and meeting patients is a very challenging task but that's what every healthcare worker wants most, we become doctors because we want to help people", he said.

Dr. Afifah Hidayah also urged the community to always respect and honor the sacrifices of doctors and nurses working in government hospitals and clinics.

"The people of KKM face a range of expectations from on-call tasks, shifting of duty locations to long distance connections. We should always be grateful and appreciate them. When you come to a government hospital or clinic, smile and get along with the doctors and nurses who are always committed to doing their jobs", she said.

Following the attendance to pay their final respects to Allahyarham Zainol Afiq was Minister in the Department of Prime Minister (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan and hundreds of people were made up of family members and contacts.

Captain Zainol was among the five victims of an Air Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Baram, Sarawak that crashed and burned near the end of Long Lellang STOLport runway at about 3:40 pm last Tuesday.

Nahas also killed medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31, nurse Jessie Paya Jok, 44, and Debra Moset, 40, and medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin, 33. - TVS