KEPALA BATAS – Two teachers who died in a car accident involving a drunk driver at Jalan Sg Lokan early this morning were returning home after bidding farewell to a friend celebrating a new posting.
Muhammad Nazrul Firdaus Jelani, 32, a friend who joined the gathering, was stunned to learn about the sudden passing of his two friends shortly after their meeting at a local restaurant.
He said he received news of the accident involving Muhammed Ahsan Mohamed Ayub, 32, and Muhammad Fakhrul Rodzi Fauzi, 31, about 10 to 15 minutes after they left the restaurant to return home.
“The deceased invited me to ride with them to the restaurant, but I told them I wanted to go on my own as I had some personal matters to attend to.
“Besides myself and the deceased, three other friends, including the one being celebrated, were present at the gathering, and none of us anticipated that it would be our last time together with the two of them,” he said when met at the forensic unit of Kepala Batas Hospital (HKB) here today.
Nazrul recalled that they had a casual conversation during the meeting before each of them went home around 2am.
Earlier, a sombre atmosphere filled the forensic unit at HKB, where about 100 people, including fellow teachers and family members gathered to pay their final respects to the victims.
Ahsan, an English teacher, married with a 3-year-old daughter, taught at SK Tanjung Bunga, while Fakhrul, a bachelor specialising in Islamic Education, worked at SJKC Phei Shin in Bukit Dumbar, Jelutong.
Fakhrul’s aunt, Nur Murni Abdullah, 43, described her nephew, the fourth of five siblings who lived with his mother in Farlim, as a filial son and always putting family first in everything.
His father had passed away when he was still young.
“He (Fakhrul) frequently apologised lately, as if he knew he had a premonition that he would be leaving forever,” she said.
It is understood that Ahsan’s remains were buried at the Muslim cemetery in Jalan Zoo, Air Itam, while Fakhrul’s body was transported to Kg Belukar Luas Naka, Kedah, for burial near his late father’s grave.
Earlier, in the 2.30am incident, Ahsan and Fakhrul died at the scene due to severe injuries, but the 46-year-old male driver of the BMW involved in the accident did not sustain any injuries. – December 16, 2023