MANJUNG: "The children now understand and can accept that their father is no longer here.
As a mother, I must be strong for them," said the widow of retired Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Commander Shaharul Amir Omar, who was among those perished in the Elmina plane crash tragedy last Thursday.
Suhaila Akasah, 47, said that all her four children, including her eldest son who also has autism, have come to terms with 49-year-old Shaharul's demise.
"During the funeral, our eldest son didn't speak, but tears streamed down his face as he watched his father's body being lowered into the grave.
"This loss has been truly difficult, but the children are able to manage their emotions given that they are all grown up and mature," she said during the disbursement of benefits from the Social Security Organisation (Socso) here yesterday.
Suhaila and her children – Izzat Danish, 19; Imanina Zulaikha, 17; Ismahani Dhaniyah, 15; and Iyliaa Najwa, 13 – are eligible beneficiaries to receive assistance from Socso through its Employment Disaster Scheme under the 1969 Employee Social Security Act.
The dependents receive a one-time funeral management benefit of RM2,000, among others.
The widow receives benefit for life while the children, until they reach 21 years of age.
Presenting them the aid was Perak Socso deputy director Roslan Pilus. Also present was the Socso's Manjung district manager Mohd Shaperi Md Salleh.
Suhaila said Socso's benefits were vital to help her and her children to continue with their lives.
She said that after losing her husband, she was worried about her children's fate as she was unemployed and had no personal income.
"I have been a full-time housewife since giving birth to my first child," she said.
The remains of Shaharul Amir, who previously served as a helicopter pilot in the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) until his retirement, were buried at the Phase 3C Islamic Cemetery in Seri Manjung here, last Sunday.
The passenger plane tragedy claimed 10 lives, including Pelangai state assemblyman Datuk Seri Johari Harun.