Story by Chan Lilian
SANJID Singh Sandhu, 41, or fondly known as Bobby, has left a lot of sadness and tears.
The sight of Sanjid’s 10-year-old son Hans sitting at the bow of the marine police boat looking out to the sea was indeed a heart-breaking sight.
Hans was with his grandfather, Jijar Singh, and other relatives to scatter Sanjid’s ashes off Pulau Rimau on Sept 3.
Jijar expressed his sadness to Ramkarpal Singh who was entrusted to accompany the family for Sanjid’s final journey.
“I had always expected to go first before my children. Now my son has gone before me. My family will never be the same again,”Jijar told Ramkarpal.
Though in deep sorrow, Jijar and his wife had remained composed and strong to face the loss of their only son.
Sanjid was a crew member of MH17 which was shot down over Ukraine on July 17. The urn containing his ashes reached KLIA on Sept 2 from Holland.
Thereafter, it was taken to his home in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur before being flown by helicopter to Bukit Mertajam where his parents’ home is.
On hand to receive the ashes were Penang state leaders and other dignitaries.
The sky was overcast and it drizzled just before the helicopter descended at the Sek. Men. Macang Bubok.
Sanjid’s ashes were placed in an urn and a casket wrapped in the Malaysia flag was handed over by the army to his family.
Jijar expressed his family’s appreciation to the government for the elaborate arrangements.
“I really appreciate the assistance rendered to my family throughout these trying times. The visits from the Chief Minister to my home after the tragedy, and your visits (Ramkarpal) have somehow given us strength for the long wait before they identified Bobby and brought him home,” Jijar told Ramkarpal.
In the midst of his sadness, Jijar did not forget the pain of the families of MH370 victims.
“Today I somewhat have a closure, after getting my son home and giving him a proper send off. It must be very difficult for the families of MH370 victims because they are still waiting in limbo,” Jijar said.
The funeral arrangements was led by exco member Jagdeep Singh Deo after exco member Phee Boon Poh was detained by the police over the Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) case on Aug 31 and released on Sept 1.
Sanjid’s funeral, from the moment the helicopter touched down in Bukit Mertajam to the scattering of the ashes was smooth.
Many people paid their last respect to Sanjid, including his primary school mates. One of them was Martin Arlando, a Catholic priest formerly from St. Anne’s Church, who was seen comforting Sanjid’s mother at their home.
She asked Arlando to drop by often even though her son is no longer around.
Arlando recalled that Sanjid used to be a “joker and very jovial”.
“Sanjid and I were classmates since Standard 2 till Form 3. He always cracked jokes but when it came to studying, we were very serious. Sanjid was good in sports. I have seen him around during St. Anne’s Feast,” Arlando said.
Back at the marine polices jetty in Batu Uban, little Hans immediately ran to his mother who was waiting there.
Both hugged tightly while relatives were seen comforting them.
Hans had bravely knelt by the side of the boat and scattered his daddy’s ashes along with flowers while Jijar stood next to him around 10.30 am.