JOHOR BARU: The new pair of grey baju melayu that 54-year-old Hawa Osman has bought for her son for Hari Raya, will never be worn.
At 9.30pm tonight, navy cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain was laid to rest at the Jalan Kebun Teh Muslim cemetery.
The heartbroken mother said Zulfarhan was a filial son and he had no problems at the Malaysian National Defence University (UPNM), where he was studying. He also had many good friends.
Hawa, an administrative assistant, said that she had bought the baju melayu for Zulfarhan when he comes home for his Raya break.
“However he has gone too soon and I will not get the chance to see him in this baju Raya.
“I last spoke to him about two weeks ago and he kept reminding me to take care of myself,” she said, when met after the funeral.
Zulfarhan’s father, Zulkarnain Idrus, was overwhelmed with grief and refused to speak to the media.
Earlier in the afternoon, the 21-year old cadet’s remains, housed in a Malaysian Armed Forces hearse, departed from the Serdang hospital’s forensic unit and had arrived at the Muslim cemetery in Johor Baru at about 8.45pm.
Some 200 people comprising family members, friends and UPNM students gathered to pay their last respect to the Zulfarhan.
A dark cloud of gloom hung heavy in the air and it was heartbreaking to see Zulfarhan’s parents breaking down. Zulfarhan’s squad mates were seen trying to console his parents.
Special officer to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammddin Hussein, Abd Halim Abd Jalil was also present to offer his condolences to the family.
On Thursday, Zulfarhan was rush to the Serdang hospital by his friends for severe scalding injuries on his body but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 10pm the same night.
Initial medical checks showed multiple bruises and scalding wounds mostly on the upper body of the victim’s chest, which is believed to be from hot iron.
Zulfarhan, the eldest of five siblings, was a third-year electrical engineering student. He is believed to be staying outside of campus at his friends’ home, all of whom are studying at different universities.