Photo: Ronnie Chin/The Star
IPOH: Twins, Nur Qistina Awliyah Mohd Azinor and Nur Qistina Auni Mohd Azinor, could not hold back their tears when they were told about their mother’s death.
Petty Officer Noor Rahiza Anuar, a photographer with the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM), was among the 10 crew members who died when two helicopters crashed mid-air in Lumut.
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Nur Qistina, 16, said a friend had called her out of class and told her to be strong before bringing her to the teacher's room.
“There, I saw my twin sister in tears while a teacher held her hand.
“I cannot believe that she is gone. I just met her in the morning,” said Qistina Awliyah, who was seen carrying her six-year-old sister.
They have another 15-year-old brother.
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Both the girls are students at SMK Pengkalan TLDM and have been staying at the quarters in Lumut since 2017.
The family was originally from Yan in Kedah.
“During Hari Raya, my mother was the most excited about taking photographs, as she said such a chance may not come again.
“She liked purchasing beautification products, and we will keep her Hari Raya outfit as a remembrance,” added Qistina Awliyah.
She added that for the past few days, they had hardly seen their mother, as she had been busy with the Navy Day rehearsals.
“She usually left in the morning and got home very late at night,” she said, adding that they now only had their father by their side.
A statement issued by the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital mentioned that a post-mortem of the 10 who died in the accident would be completed by mid-afternoon on Wednesday (April 24).