KUCHING: It was an emotional occasion for family members and relatives of Tambi Jiee when his remains was finally buried next to the grave of his wife, Ariza Ghazalee at the Semariang Muslim cemetery here today.
Thousands of people including the friends of the 49-year-old Shell employee were present when his remains was last to rest at 2.20pm.
Family members and relatives were teary-eyed trying to maintain their composure during the ceremony.
They later took turns to pour rose-scented water and scattered flower on Tambi’s grave after the recital of prayers.
A pallbearer later handed over a Jalur Gemilang, which was earlier wrapped around Tambi’s casket, to his brother Drahman Jiee.
A visibly sad and tired Drahman politely turned down request for an interview and told members of the media: “Thank you for coming.”
Tambi’s remains was flown from the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang to Kuching via a Hercules C130 aircraft.
Joining family members to receive his remains at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base near here was the Yang diPertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Tambi’s remains was carried to the Jamek Mosque in Petra Jaya near here for the jenazah prayer after the aircraft carrying his body arrived at RMAF base at 11.40am.
Among those present at the mosque was Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim.
It was reported that Ariza’s and the couple’s eldest son’s remains, Muhammad Afif, were among the first 20 bodies transported home from Amsterdam to the country on Aug 22. Their remains were buried at the same cemetery.
Tambi and Ariza, together with their four children, were flying home to the country when the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, had gone down in the eastern Ukraine on July 17.
The couple’s three other children were identified as Muhammad Afzal, 17, Marsha Azmeena, 15, and Muhammad Afruz, 13.