SABAK BERNAM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday visited the family of a police sergeant who was killed by Sulu militants in an armed intrusion in Sabah.
He arrived at the home of Sgt Sabarudin Daud in Kampung Sungai Lias, Sungai Besar, near here at about noon, chatted with the family members and signed the condolence book.
Najib also handed over a donation of RM20,000 from the Yayasan Kelana Ehsan and himself to Sabarudin’s widow, Nurunnisa Abu Bakar, 42, and their three children, aged 12 to 19.
Sabarudin, 46, was one of two VAT 69 police commandos killed in a clash with the Sulu militants on March 1. The other commando was ASP Zulkifli Mamat, 29.
Nurunnisa said the prime minister informed her that the government was proud of her husband who had sacrificed his life in defending the nation’s sovereignty.
“The prime minister also advised me to be courageous in looking after the children and face challenges with calmness,” the housewife told reporters.
Najib had stopped by at the home of Sabarudin on his way back after launching the ‘1Malaysia Family Care’ programme at the Sultan Idris Shah Polyclinic, about 20 kilometres from the policeman’s house.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon, who also visited the family, said the ministry would help Nurunnisa attend a course on baking under the 1Azam programme to enable her raise her income.
Earlier, Najib also visited ailing 83-year-old Jaliah Ali at her house in Kampung Telok Rhu, Bagan Nakhoda Omar, here.
At Jaliah’s home, the prime minister was served special delicacies prepared by the family. Jaliah’s daughter, unmarried Sabariah Ijam, 60, told reporters she was touched by the prime minister’s visit.
She said the house had been renovated with a special allocation from the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department.
“I wish to thank the Social Welfare Department for having contributed a wheelchair for my mother,” said Sabariah. — Bernama