IPOH: For Muhammat Ridzuan Ishak, 33, the loss of his younger brother in a tragic accident in Jerantut, Pahang, is difficult to bear, especially since he gave much joy to his family with his antics and cheerfulness.

He said that it was a harsh reality to accept when his brother Muhammad Ikmal Ishak, 26, was killed along with his wife, Nur Arfiqah Aziz Jaafar, 23, and three of his in-laws in a road accident at KM7, Jalan Jerantut-Maran, in Pahang.

Earlier, Jerantut police chief Supt Zukri Muhammad confirmed that Muhammad Ikmal and his wife, Nur Arfiqah, from Ulu Kinta, Perak, together with Nur Arfiqah’s three siblings – Mohammad Zulkifli, 21, Mohamad Azizul Hakimi, 19, and Nurul Hazwani, 17 – all from Bota, Perak, were killed in an accident involving another vehicle near Jerantut on Friday night.

A nearby hospital treated the injured driver and two passengers from the other vehicle.

“The last time we met was on Wednesday at Taman Malar, Tambun, when the siblings gathered, and as usual, my brother was cheerful. We have seven siblings, and he was the sixth child.

“Before the incident, I saw a WhatsApp message around 10pm where he complained that it was the first time he was using this road and that it would be the last time,” he said, Bernama reported.

Recalling the incident, Muhammat Ridzuan said he received a phone call from Nur Arfiqah’s brother informing him about the tragedy.

“I was stunned. But even though I was sad, I will accept this test from Allah,” added Muhammat Ridzuan.

Meanwhile, the mother who lost four children in the road accident said she had asked them not to visit their uncle on that day.

Zaini Noh, 52, who is the mother of Nur Arfiqah and her siblings, said her motherly instinct made her feel that something untoward was going to happen.

Hence, she advised her four children and son-in-law to cancel their plans to spend Hari Raya Aidiladha at their uncle’s house in Jerantut.

“I could not go because I was unwell. I told them not to go as my husband and I will not be going,” Sinar Harian quoted her as saying.

“I told them not to go several times, but they insisted on going,” she said at her residence at Kampung Padang Kunchor, Bota Kanan.

Zaini added that her children had not visited their uncle for some time.