A MOTHER in Sarawak has made an emotional appeal for the driver involved in a hit-and-run incident that resulted in her only son losing his left leg, urging the individual to come forward and lodge a police report to assist ongoing investigations.
Afidah Suhaili, 68, said her family harboured no intention of seeking revenge, but instead hoped the person responsible would take accountability for the incident involving her son, Putra Aqmal Syukrie Sabli, 24, which occurred at the end of March.
“There is CCTV footage from a house near the scene of the incident showing the offender getting out of the car before driving off immediately. The vehicle’s licence plate could not be identified as it was unclear.
“We are not seeking revenge, but we hope he will come forward and take responsibility so that this matter can be resolved properly,” she said when met at her home in Jalan Bako.
She also urged anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage related to the incident to assist police investigations.
Afidah said the incident had deeply affected the family, particularly as it had abruptly changed the life of her youngest child, who had only recently resumed work after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break.
In the 30 March incident at about 8.30pm, Putra Aqmal, who works as a food delivery rider, was travelling from Jalan Song towards Stutong when a vehicle believed to be a Toyota Avanza suddenly turned into a junction.
According to Putra Aqmal, he attempted to avoid the vehicle but his left leg made contact with the side of the car before he fell onto the road.
“I shouted for help and I was still conscious. I waited for about an hour before the ambulance arrived,” he said.
Afidah said although her son’s leg was not severed at the scene, the family had to wait nearly 15 hours before he was taken into surgery at around 4.30am the following day.
She said doctors initially attempted to reattach the damaged blood vessels, but ultimately decided that amputation was necessary to save his life.
Despite the life-changing injury, Putra Aqmal, a former tahfiz student at Madrasah Darul Uloom Islamiyyah Kuching and a former acting imam at Surau Mahmudi in Kampung Gita, said he has accepted the ordeal.
“Allah has not taken my life, only my leg,” he said.
He had previously earned around RM2,000 a month as a delivery rider and also taught children to read the Quran.
Afidah said her son is still undergoing follow-up treatment and rehabilitation, and is expected to receive a prosthetic leg valued at about RM50,000 in the coming months.
“We are in the process of submitting assistance forms to the Social Welfare Department. There are also contributions from elected representatives and members of the public,” she said, adding that monthly expenses for medication and care are estimated at about RM1,000.
Meanwhile, Kuching police chief Assistant Commissioner Alexson Naga Chabu said the case is being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for careless and inconsiderate driving.
“No police report has been lodged by the driver involved so far and no witnesses have come forward to assist investigations,” he said when contacted. - April 22, 2026