A Friend, A Brother & A Fallen Hero

I had a hard time to write this entry. Knowing that I have to start somewhere, as someone told me that writing does help in recovering your sorrow and pain. The worst part of losing someone is to realise that we will not seeing them again. We start wondering if we ever had the chance to say goodbye, what would we say?

I had once been rescued by a young gentleman, Lans Koperal Azrul (who is a friend and the brother I never had) from a local Suluk's captivation back in November 2012, in Semporna. This is the exact sentence used by him, "Biar aku mati asalkan hang selamat". Putting other people first before himself is the kind of who Azrul was. When his team was ambushed at Kg.Simunul, I knew that he fought till the very last of his breath.
To received a call upon his death is not the worst part but to hear how he was killed is. His body was found lying on the jetty where his head was chopped off and fell into the sea.
Emotionally, I'd lost it. I find myself just being a child who couldn't stop crying.

To Amira and Azrul's family, if you are reading this...Azrul was a courageous hero who stood strong and fought to defend the land we hold close to our hearts. His death is a devastating loss for our country, and he deserves our deepest gratitude for making the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for raising a brave hero, a defender of our country freedoms. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

I'll always be in debt to him who gave his live so we may live ours. He will always live on in my heart and never be forgotten.



Mohd Azrul Tukiran (September 23, 1986 - March 3, 2013)

(Picture taken during our first trip to Mabul Island back in 2009)