SHAH ALAM, 28 Mar: Jabah Voon, 36, felt sad when she saw her son, Macliue, 11, trying to get a glimpse or a hug from his father.
“Even more so at night, my son seems to be looking for his father and asks me, ‘mummy, can you hug me’, it is just too sad, it breaks my heart to see my son in tears,” said Jabah holding back tears.
That is the story of the wife of the late Assistant Superintendent Michael Padel who was killed in an ambush on 2 March in Semporna, Sabah.
Jabah was met after she received a donation of RM20,000 from the Selangor State Government which was personally delivered by the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim at the Annex Hall here at the State Secretariat Building.
Jadah who came from Sarawak was grateful for the Selangor Government’s attentiveness by giving her this contribution and is together grieving with the widows through this grave situation.
“If definitely means a lot to us because we are now in dire need of not only donations by also moral support in order to persevere for our futures without our beloved husbands and even our children have to persevere through the times ahead,” she said.
The late Michael served as a police officer for over 10 years and began serving at Kunak for nine years, in Tawau for two years as a Special Branch officer before being promoted as the Head of the Special Branch for the Semporna District.
Meanwhile, Nor Aziah Nor, 30, the widow of Inspector Zulkifli Mamat, 29, said that the contribution given by the Selangor Government means a lot to her family to support their lives in the future.
“The people have given a lot of support to me, coming from various parties in terms of financial assistance and also moral support and I do not feel alone in this matter,” she said.
Also killed in the terrorist attacks in Sabah was Sergeant Baharin Hamid, 49, Sergeant Abdul Aziz Sakirun, 48, and Corporal Salam Togiran, 42, Supt Ibrahim Lebar, 52, and Lance Corporal Mohd Azrul Tukiran, 27 and Corporal Sabarudin Daud, 46.
Meanwhile, Abdul Khalid at the donation ceremony said that this hero’s contribution to the nation is tremendous and dignified in terms of defending the country’s sovereignty and sanctity from terrorist invaders.
“The services of the deceased will be remembered throughout the ages and will certainly be an example and stimulus to all Malaysians,” said Abdul Khalid.
Abdul Khalid also hopes that the conflict in Sabah could be resolved immediately and for all the members of the security force to come home safely.
“The conflict has also taught us to be united in facing any threats of national security,” he said.
The State Government has allocated RM10 million specifically to help families of security personnel who lost their lives in defending our nation’s sovereignty.
Also present at the ceremony were State Excos, Rodziah Ismail, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Ronnie Liu, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, PKR President, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PKR Vice-President, Tian Chua and the Selangor Police Chief, Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah.