Man loses son, grandchildren in birthday tragedy

"Today is my birthday...but I guess fate has dealt a cruel blow to me."

These are the words of grieving Abd Rahim Saad who lost his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, in a freak accident involving four southbound vehicles at KM405 of the PLUS Expressway, near Lembah Beringin, early today.

Speaking to reporters at his house in Taman Raja Idris, Pokok Assam, here, Abd Rahim also described the passing of his son, Ahmad Faizal, 33, daughter-in-law Nur Fazilah Mad Zani, 33, and grandchildren, eight-year-old Nur Aimi Nadirah and three-year-old Ahmad Fakhri Naim as fate.

He said he was informed about the accident by the police who came to his house around 3am.

"I was just finishing my 'tahajud' prayer, while my wife was sleeping, when the policemen arrived and told me that there was an accident and that my son, his wife and two of their children were killed.

"I'm resigned to losing all of them...they died because their time of death has come," he said.

Ahmad Faizal was a police corporal attached to the Region 2 Marine Operation Force Tactical Base, Malacca.

Abd Rahim said Ahmad Faizal, the tenth of 11 siblings was a responsible, cheerful and kind son, who had a lot of friends.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Faizal's mother, Zainab Hussin, 72, never thought that his son would not be able to join her for Hari Raya Aidiladha next month as he was the one who was eager to return home for the celebration.

"Before they left for Malacca last night, he hugged me and said that he would come back for Hari Raya Aidiladha next month.

"This whole incident left me speechless. I don't know what to say. I just saw him yesterday. But Allah is Almighty and I have to accept it even though it breaks my heart," she said.

The family were laid to rest in a mass grave at Kampung Jambu Muslim cemetery here.

The couple's surviving second child, five-year-old Ahmad Faqih Nazmi, would be looked after by his aunt's family.