‘Where is mummy going?’

Heartbreak and tears as daughter says goodbye

SERIAN: “Where is mummy going?”

Those were the heart-wrenching words of four-year-old Allesia Felice Haslie at the funeral of Senior Seaman Joanna Felicia Rohna at Kampung Engkaroh here.

As the casket was being carried by Navy pall bearers into the hearse, she said goodbye and then asked in Bidayuh, “Mummy irak gepih (where is mummy going)?”

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Joanna’s husband Haslie Ali, 33, could not hold back his tears as he held their daughter in his arms.

Joanna, who also had a one-year-old son, was one of 10 Navy personnel killed in the helicopter crash in Lumut on Tuesday.

She was laid to rest at the Kampung Engkaroh Christian cemetery at 11am yesterday after a brief service at the grave site.

Gone to Heaven: Allesia Felice kissing her mother’s portrait after the burial service while her grandfather Francis Penny holds her. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

The burial rites were carried out according to Navy tradition.

Royal Malaysian Navy First Admiral Franklin Jeyasekhar Joseph then presented the Jalur Gemilang to Haslie, who is a Navy Petty Officer.

“I would like to thank everyone who was involved in my wife’s funeral arrangements,” Haslie said.

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Franklin conveyed condolences on behalf of the Navy to Haslie and Joanna’s family.

“It’s truly a loss to the nation,” he said.

Earlier yesterday, family members, villagers and military personnel paid their last respects to Joanna at Haslie’s family home in Kampung Engkaroh.

Among those present were Malaysian Army First Division Infantry commander Mejar-Jen Datuk Fauzi Kamis, former Eastern Field commander Lt-Jen Datuk Stephen Mundaw and Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot.Also present were Joanna’s parents Francis Penny and Rohna Tumbo, grandparents Tumbo Usen and Rindung Milo, and her four younger siblings.