A video that made this soldier’s day

GERIK: Kapt Hadi Yusri Hashim spent the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri at the Sri Banding forward operating base deep in the Belum-Temenggor rainforest, a 40km drive from the nearest town.

After prayers, he and the other 200 army personnel celebrated by tucking in to Raya delicacies such as lemang, rendang and ketupat, and received goodie bags from the Armed Forces.

Each of them was thinking about their family back home but they suppressed their sadness because duty comes first.

The day before, heavy rain and strong winds almost scattered the makeshift tents that were set up for the last day of the buka puasa dinner.

The festive season can be a difficult time for soldiers guarding the nation’s borders.

It was especially trying for Kapt Hadi who was spending Raya away from his wife and three children for the first time.

Although the separation hit the young father hard, he remained dedicated to his duty.

For the 31-year-old soldier, guarding the border also meant that he was protecting his family.

“It is more difficult being away from our families at this time,” he told The Star on the eve of Hari Raya after attending a buka puasa event with Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor and Army chief Jen Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim.

“The feelings of sadness and loneliness are there, but will not break our spirit. Instead, it motivates us to continue serving. After all, without family, who are we?” he said.

Kapt Hadi said the families made their own sacrifices by accepting that sons, husbands and fathers had to work during Aidilfitri.

He thanked his wife Amiza Aminudin, 31, for taking care of their three children – Umar Khalid, five, Muhammad Al Fateh, four, and Aisyah Humaira, two – while he is away for months at a time.

“The sacrifices my wife has made for me and my children mean so much to me. I am very grateful.

“She understands that in my line of work, protecting the sovereignty of the nation is top priority. But family is just as important to me,” said Kapt Hadi, who has served 11 years in the army.

He is part of the 23rd Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment based at the Gua Permai camp in Ipoh, and the second in command of his company, which has been stationed for two months at the Lepang Nenering forest reserve in Perak to guard the Thailand-Malaysia border under Ops Kota Echo/Foxtrot and Ops Pagar III.

During the interview, Kapt Hadi did not know that The Star had reached out to his wife two days earlier to plan a surprise gift for him.

Amiza, a chemistry lecturer, was more than happy to participate, roping in her children and two nieces to record a personalised Raya video greeting to Kapt Hadi and the other soldiers on duty.

She said that keeping order in her household during Kapt Hadi’s absence could sometimes feel like an insurmountable task but she had learnt to take it in stride.

“In our six years of marriage, his absence is the biggest test we have had to overcome.

“My children always look at the calendar, counting the days to his homecoming. My baby girl would say ‘Papa’ whenever she sees her father’s uniform,” she said.

Amiza, who lectures at a matriculation college in Gopeng, said she received a lot of support from her parents, who live nearby.

All dressed in pink Raya attire, the family recorded a simple yet heartfelt “Selamat Hari Raya, maaf zahir dan batin” to Kapt Hadi.

The serviceman broke into a broad grin when The Star reporter showed him the video and he was literally shaking from the surprise.

“When did you get this! I am shocked and excited,” said Kapt Hadi, who could not stop smiling after watching the video.

The serviceman quickly regained his composure before wishing his family Selamat Hari Raya on camera.

“Please wait for my return. It won’t be long. I will be back in two or three weeks,” an emotional Kapt Hadi said to them.