GEORGE TOWN: An old school friend of Ahmad Hakimi Hanapi, the co-pilot of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 that was shot down in Ukraine, described him as a ‘mobile book’ during their school days.
Senthelnathan showing his old school friend foto Ahmad Hakimi Hanapi. — Bernama photo
Muhamad Firdaus Abdul Rahim, 27, the co pilot of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH17. — Bernama photo
Engineer N.G Senthelnathan said Ahmad Hakimi, 29, was an expert in all the school subjects and was always willing to help him in his revision while at school or in the bus.
“I was looking at the list of crash victims one by one and never expected that one of them was an old friend whom I wanted to meet,” he said when met here yesterday.
Recalling their school days, he said, they used to hitch rides from one of their teachers and later took the bus together until they completed their secondary education at Penang Free School.
He lost contact with Ahmad Hakimi after they both sat for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams.
“I remembered him as someone who is cool, caring and cheerful and the news of his demise is very sad but at the same time, I feel proud because he always strive to be the best,” he added. — Bernama