FATAL BETONG CRASH: FILM CREW MEMBER AHMAD AFIQ LAID TO REST

KUCHING, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- “Anyone who knew Ahmad Afiq would describe him as kind, quiet, yet very much loved by his friends.”

Those were the words of Nalisa M. Halim, 42, widow of filming crew member Ahmad Afiq Mohd Salleh, 42, who was killed in a road crash in Betong yesterday.

Ahmad Afiq’s remains were laid to rest at the Semariang Muslim Cemetery here at 11.40 pm, attended by family members and close friends. He leaves behind four children aged between four and 14.

Recalling the moment she received the tragic news, Nalisa said she was at work in Kuala Lumpur when she was contacted by the production team, who informed her that her husband had been involved in the crash.

“I received a call at 1.30 pm informing me that he had been in a crash and died at the scene.

“At first, I could not accept it… I tried to find answers because there were those saying some crew members were in critical condition while others were receiving treatment,” she said when met after the burial ceremony.

Nalisa said her children had inherited their father’s artistic interests, but the late Ahmad Afiq preferred that they not follow in his footsteps in the film industry, as he understood the ins and outs of the field.

She also expressed her gratitude to the Professional Film Workers Association of Malaysia (PROFIMA) and the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) for their cooperation and assistance in expediting the burial process.

“Although we as a family come from Kuala Lumpur and are originally from Gombak, we pray for the means to visit his grave here at least once a year,” she said.

Earlier, the media reported that FINAS assisted the families of the two crew members involved with travel arrangements from Kuching International Airport to Sri Aman Hospital.

FINAS Chief Executive Officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib said he was informed of the incident by PROFIMA, which also worked closely to facilitate the victims’ families.

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, in a Facebook post, also extended his condolences and expressed sorrow over the passing of Ahmad Afiq and another crew member, the late Jaya Ganesh Janarthana, 48, who was also killed in the tragedy.

It is understood that Jaya Ganesh’s remains will be flown to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow for funeral arrangements.

Yesterday, Sri Aman District Police chief Supt Dennis Bunyam confirmed that the crash on the Pan Borneo Highway near the Skrang Clinic in Betong, occurred at 12.07 pm, claiming two lives and injuring 11 others after the van carrying the victims was hit by a four-wheel drive vehicle.

-- BERNAMA