A family’s pain: Fahmi Hafiz’s family is still grieving his loss. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
KEPALA BATAS: This Ramadan will be a sombre affair for the family of 10-year-old Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz Mohammad Fakhruddin who are still battling to come to grips with his death last month.
His father, Mohamad Fakhruddin Mohamad Fikri, 35, said it was especially challenging as the family used to break fast together.
“He was a cheerful boy who brought joy to all in the family. During buka puasa, I still find myself calling out to him to join us, only to realise that he is no longer around,” Fakhruddin said at his mother’s house in Kampung Permatang Binjai here yesterday.
Fahmi Hafiz, a Year Four pupil of SK Sungai Dua in Butterworth, was in critical condition at the Penang Hospital paediatric intensive care unit on Feb 18 after choking on gummy candy he bought outside his school.
The 10-year-old succumbed to his condition two days later, with his death creating headlines due to the danger posed by such gummy candies to children.
This led the Health Ministry to order a ban on the sale of the eyeball-shaped candy.
Fakhruddin, a delivery driver, said his son was well-liked by the local mosque congregation and had taken up silat.
“He attended Quran lessons and never missed maghrib and isyak prayers at the mosque.”
Housewife Nuraini Mohd Isa, 37, said her son loved eating fried chicken which was a must-have dish for him.
“This year’s Hari Raya will be incomplete without him,” she lamented.
