A FINAL phone call and a cheerful WhatsApp status were among the last interactions shared with the victims of a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of five family members en route to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha in Pahang.
Among the deceased was 23-year-old Nur Arfiqah Aziz Jaafar, whose aunt, Norhayati Ismail, 60, had spoken with her moments before the fatal collision.
“Once you get there, it's not far from the intersection of Mak Ngah's house (Kalau dah sampai situ, tak jauh dah dari simpang rumah Mak Ngah),” were Nur Arfiqah’s final words during the call, said Norhayati. The line then went dead.
“After the call dropped, I heard someone say, ‘eh, they must’ve fainted’. Then I heard a car alarm… someone finally answered and told me there had been an accident at Batu 58,” Norhayati recalled, speaking at the Forensics Unit of Jerantut Hospital on Saturday.
The crash, which occurred just after midnight at Kilometre 7 of Jalan Jerantut-Maran, claimed the lives of driver Mohamad Ikmal Ishak, 26; his wife Nur Arfiqah; and her siblings Mohammad Zulkifli, 21, Mohamad Azizul Hakimi, 19, and Nurul Hazwani, 17. All were believed to be travelling from Ulu Kinta and Bota in Perak.
Jerantut district police chief Superintendent Zukri Muhammad confirmed that the group was travelling in a Perodua Bezza when it collided with a Toyota Alphard coming from the opposite direction.
Norhayati’s son, Muhammad Azuwan Arif Shah, 34, was called to the scene shortly after the crash, which occurred just 500 metres from their family home in Paya Gunung.
“I saw one victim lying on the road. I ran to the car and found two more unconscious, trapped inside. I asked people nearby to help look for my two other cousins, and we eventually found them about 10 metres away,” he said.
Muhammat Ridzuan Ishak, 33, the elder brother of Mohamad Ikmal, said the accident had left the family devastated.
“It’s difficult to accept. He was always cheerful and brought joy to us. We last saw him on Wednesday in Tambun,” said Ridzuan, who added that a WhatsApp status posted by his brother just hours before the crash read: “First time using this road, and the last.”
Despite the loss, he said the family accepted it as a test of faith.
The bodies of the victims have been sent to Jerantut Hospital for post-mortem examinations. Police have classified the case under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.- June 7, 2025
