KOTA BARU: "They were the best of friends and inseparable since primary school."
So said Dr Mohamad Syafiq Ahmad Kamil, the brother of Mohamad Syahidi, 24, one of the three people killed in an accident along Jalan Gerik-Baling, near Gerik, Perak on Monday evening.
Also perished in the crash were Syahidi's best friends; Khairul Amirin Tengku Kamarudin and Mohamad Shazlimie Mohd Rosli, also 24.
"I just can't believe what happened and who would have thought that they remained together, even in death," he said.
He said the three of them were very close and had known each other since primary school and the friendship continued on even after Syahidi went on to further his studies at the Merlimau Polytechnic in Melaka.
Dr Mohamad Syafiq, 28, said his brother and friends went to Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Arau, Perlis, on Saturday to change car with younger brother Mohamad Syarif, 19, before going for an outing in Penang.
The three of them and another friend, Mohd Shahrin Rashid, 23, who was badly hurt in the crash, were on their way back to Kota Baru at the time of the incident.
"We were shocked when told of the crash around 6pm. Our father Ahmad Kamil Sa’ud, 62, rushed to Gerik Hospital after receiving the news from the police,"
He said the last time the family saw Syahidi was on the day he went to Perlis.
"He was on a semester break so he took the opportunity to catch up with his best friends.
"As for driving, he's very reliable when it comes to long journey. In fact, he had just returned from Kuala Lumpur with our father before going to Perlis," said Dr Mohamad Syafiq, who is attached with Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZII) Hospital, here.
He said his brother was buried at Tanjung Chat Muslim Cemetery in Kota Baru today.
It was reported yesterday that the Perodua MyVi car Syahidi and his friends were travelling in had collided with an express bus along the stretch about 5pm.
Syahidi, Khairul Amirin and Mohamad Shazlimie died on the spot while Mohd Shahrin sustained serious injuries from the crash.
The driver and passengers of the bus were unhurt.