Saturday March 9, 2013

Lahad Datu: Wife of slain officer recalls how she sent SMS not knowing he was dead

<b>Sombre moment:</b> Rosiah Dahlan at the funeral of her husband Supt Ibrahim Lebar who was killed at Semporna. He died on the eve of their 23rd wedding anniversary.

Sombre moment: Rosiah Dahlan at the funeral of her husband Supt Ibrahim Lebar who was killed at Semporna. He died on the eve of their 23rd wedding anniversary.

SUBANG JAYA: Rosiah Dahlan sent an SMS to her husband wishing him a happy 23rd wedding anniversary. She did not know that he would never read the message. He had been killed by the Sulu terrorists.

Rosiah, 52, an auditor, said she had last spoken to her husband Supt Ibrahim Lebar at about 2pm on March 2, adding that it was a jovial conversation.

“I have to hear my husband’s voice every day. I called him at 2pm and we talked a bit. Then he said he wanted to talk to my youngest daughter but would call back at 8pm.

“We waited for his call but at midnight knowing it would be our 23rd wedding anniversary, I could not wait any longer and just sent him an sms wishing him happy anniversary. There was no reply. That’s when I feared the worst.

“Later, I found out that he was no longer alive at the time I sent that sms,” she said when met at her home in USJ 9 here.

Rosiah said she was inconsolable for a whole day after hearing news of her husband’s death in Semporna on March 2.

Supt Ibrahim, 52, and five other policemen were killed in an ambush.

Rosiah has since accepted her husband’s death as fate.

Supt Ibrahim Lebar

“My children have been my rock. They know how much I loved my husband and how close we were and have remained strong for me.

“I too need to be strong for them. The tremendous support I have received from family, friends, the police and the Government have helped us through this difficult time,” she said.

They have three children aged between 17 and 22.

Amirul Shafiq, 22, the eldest, is doing his diploma in Marketing at UITM, Segamat while Amira Shahira, 20, is studying medicine at Cairo University in Egypt.

The youngest, Amira Shadida, is scheduled to sit for the SPM this year.

Rosiah said she and her children were proud that Supt Ibrahim and his fallen colleagues have been hailed as Wira Negara (National Heroes).

“We will hold our heads up high with pride for their sacrifices,” she said.

Earlier, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Shirlin and several Puteri Umno division heads called on Rosiah at their home.

They expressed their condolences before handing over cash contributions for the children’s education.

News

Saturday March 9, 2013

Lahad Datu: Wife of slain officer recalls how she sent SMS not knowing he was dead