GEORGE TOWN: Mohamad Nazhif Faris Mohd Fauzi dreamed of following in his sister's footsteps to become an engineer, but now, that dream has been buried with him.
That is the painful reality facing his father, Mohd Fauzi Din, 58, who lost Nazhif, 22, in a hit-and-run accident along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, near the exit to the Penang Bridge, early this morning.
Nazhif and his friend, Daniesha Hana Mohamad Hairul, 20, died about 4am when the motorcycle they were riding was believed to have been hit from behind by a vehicle that fled the scene.
Fauzi, who was met outside the Forensic Medicine Department at Penang Hospital today, said his fifth child of six siblings was studying at Universiti Kuala Lumpur-Malaysian Spanish Institute (UniKL MSI) in Kulim and staying in a hostel.
He said he learnt from his son's hostel mate that Nazhif had gone out for a while before news of the accident reached him.
"I knew he had met his female friend when they worked part-time together previously," he said.
Still grieving, Fauzi urged anyone who witnessed the accident or had dashcam footage to come forward at the nearest police station to assist the investigation.
"I have accepted this loss, but the person responsible must be found," he said.
For Daniesha Hana's mother, Masniezar Ahmad, the loss came just hours after what she thought was an ordinary farewell.
Masniezar said she last saw her eldest daughter about 8pm yesterday, when Daniesha Hana asked for permission to go fishing with friends.
The 20-year-old, who was caring and always willing to help her five younger siblings, worked as an assistant at a nearby supermarket. She had also expressed a desire to find another job offering better pay.
"I never imagined that last night would be the last time I saw her. I understand that my daughter and her friend were on their way home from fishing," Masniezar said.
Although she had accepted the tragedy, she appealed to the public to share any information that could help the investigation.
Nazhif's remains are expected to be buried at the Permatang Tok Dik Muslim Cemetery in Bagan Serai, Kedah, while Daniesha Hana will be laid to rest at the Taman Mahsuri Muslim Cemetery in Padang Serai.
Meanwhile, North-East district police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Rozak Muhammad said preliminary investigations showed that the victims were travelling from the city centre towards the Penang Bridge when their motorcycle was believed to have been hit from behind by an unidentified vehicle.
The collision occurred at the fork leading to the Penang Bridge and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
Both victims died at the scene.
Rozak said a 23-year-old man who was driving a sports utility vehicle involved in the accident had surrendered to police.
He said the suspect, from Bukit Jambul, surrendered at the North-East district police headquarters at about 1pm today. A urine screening test conducted on the suspect returned negative for drugs, he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.
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