Village welcomes hero

KOTA BARU: It was a day to remember for MT Nepline Delima hero Mohamed Hamid as much as it was for the 200 residents of his hometown in Kampung Biah. 

Mohamed returned to his home in Nilam Puri for a well-deserved break and what he got was a rousing reception.  

The residents carried their hero, now sporting a crew cut with a cleanly shaven face, on their shoulders during the reception organised by the tanker’s owner Nepline Bhd yesterday. 

Nepline chief executive officer Datuk Dr Nik Mohd Zain Omar presented a certificate and cash to Mohamed’s father Hamid Mat Hassan, 64, and mother Siti Munah Mohd Hussain, 61, in appreciation of their son’s bravery. Mohamed helped foil an attack on the Malaysian-registered oil tanker off Langkawi on Tuesday. 

OUR BOY: Mohamed being carried by his villagers with Annuar (left) and Dr Nik Mohd Zain lifting his hands. With them are (from left) his father, Muhamad Azmi, his mother Siti Munah and Dr Nik Zain’s wife Datin Nik Khatijah Nik Abdullah.

Siti Munah said she never expected her son “to be so famous so suddenly”. 

“I hardly get to see him as he only gets leave once in six months. I am surprised that he is well-known but I am only interested in his safety and I thank God that he is safe,” she said. 

Hamid said he was confident that Mohamed would not get bigheaded over the newfound fame. 

“I know Mat Iman (as Mohamed is affectionately known among family members) will not let popularity go to his head. He is not the type to show off and has always been humble,” he said. 

Mohamed’s younger sister, Norul Falisa, 25, said he was always playing pranks on his family and was well liked by everyone in the village. 

Nepline managing director Muhamad Azmi Alwi said the crewmen were given a one-month leave to rest after undergoing the trauma of the hijacking. 

“They will be well rested before they start work again,” he said. 

Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Annuar Musa, who was present, congratulated Mohamed saying he was an example of the Towering Malay envisaged by the Prime Minister.  

“ Mohamed's quick thinking and bravery should be emulated by all Malaysians,” Annuar said, adding that it was difficult to find someone who dared to risk his life when the odds were stacked against him.