PUTRAJAYA: In a heartfelt goodbye, the wife of the late Lieutenant Colonel Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub, 56, wrote that she and the children would miss him greatly.
Awang Askandar died while attempting to conquer Mount Everest last Friday (May 19).
"I am very, very proud of you, my dearest 'Sawoku' (husband in Kadazan)," said Siti Hafizan Abdul Hamid in a post on her Facebook account today (May 22).
It has been four days since his death, and Siti Hafizah, 31, a housewife who hails from Ranau, Sabah said she knew he had done his best and given it all to return home to them safely.
"I accept what has happened as fate. My children and I count our blessings for having Awang Askandar as a wonderful and loving father and husband for 13 years until his untimely demise," she said.
Siti Hafizah said she had to remain strong to care for and raise their six children.
Siti Hafizah said Awang Askandar was an excellent and loving husband who prioritised his family above all else.
"Even though he was busy with work, he never neglected us. At times, he would bring us along so that he could spend some quality time with us.
"Abang was a very good father who loved our children very much and always advised them, (to) 'help Mama, listen to Mama'.
"Every evening after returning home from work, he would always take the children out to play outside the house as he did not want them to be stressed out from being couped up inside the house without any physical activity," she said.
Awang Askandar, 56, died after encountering health problems while at a height of 8,000 metres (m) above sea level during a mission to climb Mount Everest.
Awang Askandar's remains are expected to be brought down to a safe area this morning before being transported to Kathmandu, Nepal, and thereafter sent back to Malaysia, where he will be buried at his hometown in Kampung Benoni, Papar, Sabah.
Awang Askandar and Siti Hafizah have six children between the ages of two to 12-years-old.
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