SHAH ALAM: The family of Malaysia Airlines MH17 First Officer Firdaus Abdul Rahim is still clinging to the slightest chance that he is still alive despite realising the severity of the crash.
"We are still hopeful," said Firdaus' sister, Roziana Nor Abdul Rahim, 28, teary eyed, when met at Firdaus' house at Cahaya Alam, here, yesterday.
Roziana who lives with Firdaus, their mother and Firdaus' wife was shocked and saddened to learn about the catastrophic crash from the news on Thursday night.
"We were watching television when the news first broke.
"We initially did not believe that he was co-piloting the plane and we were devastated when we made a phone call to MAS and they confirmed that he was indeed on the plane.
Firdaus' mother who was distraught by the tragedy was not ready to talk to the reporters while Firdaus' wife was asleep after staying up the whole night following news updates and praying for her husband's safety when reporters visited his house yesterday.
Firdaus, whose 27th birthday is on Monday (21 July) is married to HUKM paediatric nurse Norzarith Zaaba in April 2013.
He is described by family members as a family man who was gentle and loving.
"He was a lovely brother, son and husband.
"He was very close to my mother as he is the youngest in the family and always texted her even when he was abroad," said Roziana.
The co-pilot who is fondly known as Jaja, had been planning to have a breaking of fast session with the family this week.
"We were supposed to have a breaking of fast dinner together this week after he returns from Amsterdam," said Roziana who last met him on Tuesday before Firdaus left to Amsterdam.
She said Firdaus did not show any strange behaviour prior to the tragic incident.
"We will definitely miss him dearly," she said while trying to hold back her tears.
Roziana's last text message to Firdaus was when she informed him that he did not have to pay 'zakat fitrah' (tithe) as she had paid for him but he did not reply.
All crew and passengers onboard MH17 are feared dead after the B777-200 aircraft crashed in Ukraine after it was allegedly shot down hours after take-off from Amsterdam.