FDS crash victims’ families grateful for Sarawak government’s support

KUCHING: Families of three victims of the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash have expressed their gratitude for the Sarawak government’s RM100,000 assistance, with education support and an employment opportunity providing further help as they rebuild their lives.

Mohd Faiz Ab Malek, husband of the late Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin, said he had yet to decide how to use the assistance and would keep it for the time being.

“For now, I’m not really sure. I’ll just keep it for the time being. I don’t have any plans yet on what to do with it.

“But thank you, and my deepest gratitude to the Sarawak government for the contribution. We have also received a lot of support from the people of Sarawak, and that is also very important to us,” he told reporters after the handover of RM100,000 assistance to the families of the five Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash victims here on Friday.

Faiz, who has served as a teacher in Sarawak for 13 years, said he was in the process of applying to return to Kelantan.

Mohd Faiz Ab Malek. – Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

“I do have plans, and I am in the process of applying. I may return to Kelantan and perhaps settle everything by the end of this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nor Izzati Syamimi Suhaimi, wife of the late Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, said she had yet to decide how to use the assistance as she continued to settle matters following her husband’s death.

“I don’t really know how to put it into words, but Sarawak has helped us a lot. I would like to thank the Sarawak government once again because they have helped us so much from the very first day until now,” she said.

Nor Izzati Syamimi Suhaimi. – Mohd Alif Noni

Nor Izzati said she was still waiting to hear from the federal government, adding that she understood it might also be dealing with various matters.

“Perhaps they are also busy, and I understand that. But the Sarawak government has been very good and has been extremely helpful,” she said.

For Stephanie Essah Icham, wife of late Alexson Adit Henry, the assistance came alongside a job offer from Curtin and education sponsorship for her two children.

Stephanie Essah Icham. – Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

“I received a job offer from Curtin, RM100,000 and education sponsorship for my children,” she said.

She said the education support was particularly meaningful as her two children were still young.

“I have two children. One is five years old, and the other is two years old, so they are still very young,” she said.

Stephanie said she was deeply touched by the Sarawak government and Yayasan Sarawak for supporting her children’s education.

“We are very touched by the Sarawak government and Yayasan Sarawak for helping us, especially with our children’s education,” she said.

The three families were among five families who received RM100,000 each, along with other forms of assistance, from the Sarawak government, presented by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) building following the Sept 8 FDS helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, which claimed five lives.