“Dr Ainul had told me she wanted to further her studies and become a specialist. That was our last conversation.”
Those were the heartbreaking words of Kamaruddin Salleh, 69, the father of Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33, who was among five people killed in a Medical Flying Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, Sarawak, on Tuesday.
Kamaruddin, a retired teacher, said his daughter had shared her plans when she returned to their family home with her husband, Muhammad Faiz Abdul Malik, 37, during the recent school holidays.
“As her father, I supported her plans and told her that she should first obtain her husband’s permission.
“We were happy to hear about her plans to continue her studies as a specialist at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Kubang Kerian. If she succeeded, she could return to serve in Kelantan,” he said when met at his home in Kampung Baung, Pengkalan Chepa, on Tuesday.
Dr Ainul was among five people who died after the FDS helicopter they were travelling in crashed and caught fire near the Long Lellang STOLport in the remote Baram area.
The crash occurred at about 3.40pm, with all five people on board later confirmed dead.
According to a Borneo Post report quoting Miri Division Disaster Management Committee chairman and Miri Resident Galong Luang, the helicopter crashed at the end of the STOLport runway.
He said the deaths were confirmed based on reports from the Fire and Rescue Department and the Health Ministry.
Kamaruddin said he and his wife, Rogayah Mohd Noor, 69, also a retired teacher, had always hoped their daughter would eventually return to serve in her home state.
Dr Ainul, the fourth of five siblings, had been married for three years and had no children.
“We always prayed for the best for her and were proud of her dedication as a doctor serving the community,” Kamaruddin said.
