KOTA TINGGI: "Where's grandma? You said you were going to take me out to eat."
Five-year-old Athiyyah Nur Sofia Muhamad Izuddin repeatedly asked, unaware that she had become an orphan after a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of her father, grandmother, and grandfather.
Athiyyah is the only survivor of the crash which occurred at 8.30pm last night on Kilometre 45 of the Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing highway.
The collision involved a Toyota Vios and a Proton Persona, and resulted in the deaths of her father, Muhamad Izuddin Md Yusuf, 36, and her grandparents, Md Yusuf Mukhtar, 71, and Rosnah Salleh, 65.
Athiyyah's uncle, 42-year-old Mohd Nazim Md Yusuf, said the young girl had been raised by her grandparents since her mother passed away two years ago.
He added that Athiyyah and her father were both conscious after the accident but did not yet know that her grandparents had died.
"She kept asking for her grandmother, saying she wanted to go out for a meal," he said.
"Athiyyah was very close to my parents, having lived with them since she was one year old."
The family had been on their way to dinner in Felda Tenggaroh when the accident occurred.
Mohd Nazim, the eldest of six siblings, arrived at the scene shortly after the crash. He said he was able to comfort his brother, Muhamad Izuddin, before he was taken by ambulance to the hospital.
"Before Isyak, a villager informed me about the accident, and I rushed to the scene," Mohd Nazim said. "I managed to help my brother recite the two kalimah syahadah before he was taken away to hospital," he said.
He described his brother as a man who had grown more reserved since his wife's death two years ago. Every time their mother suggested he remarry, he would sulk and visit his late wife's grave.
"My brother worked as an air conditioning technician and often travelled from Johor Bahru to Felcra Sungai Ara every weekend to spend time with his daughter," he added.
The three bodies will be buried together in a single grave at the Felcra Sungai Ara Islamic Cemetery.
Mohd Nazim said he and his siblings would discuss who would care for Athiyyah and that he was willing to take responsibility for raising her.
He added that Athiyyah had been particularly close to his wife.