Rela Negeri Sembilan chief trainer finally gets to 'rest'
SYAMILAH ZULKIFLI
SEREMBAN - A grouse about being tired and wanting to rest became the late Negeri Sembilan Malaysian Volunteer Department (Rela) chief trainer Muhammad Noh Muhammad Isa, 53, final wish before he passed away.
His wife Maniliza Abdul Hamid, 47, related that a few days before the National Day parade celebration, the deceased complained of fatigue and said that he might pass out on the day of the actual parade.
Noh died after collapsing during the 2023 National Day celebration parade at Dataran Majlis Bandaraya Seremban yesterday morning.
Maniliza however related that her late husband had still insisted on going to the parade as he felt that it was his responsibility a leader.
"The day before that, he was lying in the living room and said 'I might pass out tomorrow'. I told him that if he couldn't make it, find someone else to replace him, but he said that he is the leader.
"I didn't think of it then, but the morning before going to the parade, I saw his face was pale when he was having breakfast, but when I asked him, he said that he was fine," she said when met at her home in Kampung Jiboi Ampangan today.
She revealed that the deceased had health problems, but never sought further treatment at the hospital besides taking painkillers.
Meanwhile, her second son, Ahmad Harraz, 20, who participated in the parade said that before the incident, his father did not show any strange signs and remained enthusiastic as usual.
"Aug 31 was the date my father had been waiting for to perform because he wanted to ensure that the Rela contingent is respected by the public.
"That's why he was very committed and worked really hard throughout the training, but before the incident, it seemed like something was wrong because usually, dad would be early, but not that day," he pointed out.
The middle child of three siblings said that at the time of the incident, he had time to grab his father who collapsed, but had let go and continued with the parade as usual because there were other members of the contingent who came to his aid.
"Also, it's normal for parade participants to collapse or pass out. After finishing the parade, I felt unwell and went straight to the hospital.
"However, as soon as I arrived, I was told that my father had passed away. As an only son, my father always told me to take care of the family if anything happened to him and always told me not to leave my prayers and to do them early," he shared.
Earlier, the family received a visit from Negeri Sembilan Rela and the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) director Nur Mohammad Bakhtir Mohamad Akhir.
Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan Rela director, Rela Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Faiz Musa noted that the deceased was a 'diamond' in Negeri Sembilan Rela and an important character in the team.
"He is the march captain for Negeri Sembilan Rela team and had participated in the National Day parade many times. I also consider him an 'otai' (seasoned person) because of his influence here.
"If there is any event that requires the service of many Rela members, he can gather members in a short time. For me, his departure is like losing a diamond in Rela," he expressed.
