RAUB – “I have already lost two brothers, and today my eldest brother has left us as well.”
Those were the heartbreaking words of Muhamad Yusrizuhairi Mat Dani, 27, the younger brother of the late Mohd Alawi Muhammad, 56, who perished after the rented house he shared with his family in Kampung Pamah Kulat here was destroyed in a fire early Thursday morning.
He said the tragedy was even more painful as his brother died alongside his wife and their three daughters.
In the blaze, which broke out at about 3.30am, Mohd Alawi’s wife, Zaleha Adam @ Ibrahim, 44, and their daughters - Ruby Adira Batrisya, 17; Ruby Adlina Banin, 14; and Ruby Azyan Barizah, 10 - were also killed.
Yusrizuhairi said although it was difficult to accept the reality, he has come to terms with it, as his brother and family passed away during the holy month of Ramadan.
“There are no more tears left to cry. It is heartbreaking to think about how they left so suddenly and tragically in this incident.
“Now I no longer have any brothers. Only my two sisters remain,” he said when met at the Forensic Medical Department of Raub Hospital.
The youngest of six siblings described his late brother as a kind and responsible man, as were his sister-in-law and nieces.
“Although we lived separately, he always looked out for me and our mother. You could say he was the one we depended on,” said Yusrizuhairi, who lives with their mother in Kampung Jelu.
He described his brother as friendly and warm, even towards those he had just met.
“That was his nature. He was also generous and never hesitated to help the family,” he said.
He added that his brother and sister-in-law had been selling food throughout Ramadan, and he would often receive dishes for breaking fast free of charge.
“He sold different things depending on the season. During fruit season, he sold fruits. During Ramadan, he sold food. That’s how he supported his family,” he said.
When asked if he had noticed any recent changes in his brother’s behaviour, he said Alawi had been his usual self, with no signs of anything amiss.