By Karen Bong
SERIAN, April 25: Haslie Ali, husband of the late Navy officer Joanna Felicia Rohna, was gripped by panic upon learning of the Lumut helicopter crash from a circulating video.
“I was working when the incident happened. I found out about it through the (video) recording. I panicked and everything became chaotic,” he told reporters briefly following Joanna’s funeral ceremony today.
Joanna, who was among the 10 Navy personnel killed in the April 23 crash involving two helicopters in Lumut, Perak, was laid to rest at Kampung Engkeroh Christian cemetery in Jalan Mongkos near Tebakang at 11.33am today after a prayer service.
The couple’s four-year-old daughter Allesia Felice Haslie and one-year-old son Hovannes Haslie were present. They scattered flowers upon their mother’s resting place.
Haslie, who is a Navy petty officer, expressed gratitude and thanks to all those involved in the funeral ceremony.
“I also want to thank Serian MP (Dato Sri Richard Riot Jaem) for coming to pay his last respect,” he added.
Following the conclusion of the funeral ceremony, carried out according to Navy tradition, Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) First Admiral Franklin Jeyasekhar Joseph presented the Malaysian flag to Haslie.
In a brief interview, Franklin conveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the Navy to both sides of Joanna’s families including Haslie and their young children.
“It is truly a loss for the nation,” he said.
Eight officers from RMN Lumut took part in the funeral ceremony, which was assisted by their fellow Navy team in Kuching.
A total of 98 personnel, comprising 17 officers and 61 personnel of various ranks, as well as 11 military vehicles and assets, were involved.
Joanna’s parents Francis Penny and Rohna Tumbo, grandparents Rindung Milo and Tumbo Usen, and her four siblings were also present.
Among those who paid their final respects were Deputy State Secretary Datu Buckland Bangik, Commander of 1st Division Major General Datuk Fauzi Kamis, and Lt-General (R) Datuk Stephen Mundaw. — DayakDaily
