THE family of Muhammad Haziq Mohd Tarmizi, 17, who died in the mosque shooting incident in Christchurch, New Zealand, last Friday, have accepted his death.

His aunt, Zarina Shuib, 53, said that during a video call with family members in Christchurch, she saw they were able to remain calm despite having gone through such a tremendous ordeal.

“I just don’t know how his younger brother, (12-year-old) Haris will react as until Haziq’s parents haven’t told him that his elder brother is dead.

“Even during the video call just now, I did not see Haris clearly. He appeared to want to avoid talking and went away (when the handphone was given to him). He is still suffering from trauma,”she said at her home in Hutan Kampung, near Alor Star, today.

She said she only discovered Haziq had died early this morning as she was getting ready to go to work.

“At 8am today, my younger sister (Mariani Shuib) said that Haziq had died, but it had yet to be confirmed. An hour later, I was told that Haziq’s death had been confirmed.

“Subsequently, the family made arrangements for Haziq’s funeral and I was told that only my younger brother (Mohd Tarmizi Shuib) and elder brother (Zakaria Shuib) were allowed at the burial ground and that everything was over about 2.30pm New Zealand time,”she said.

“Mariani said they all could kiss Haziq before his remains were taken to the burial ground. Haziq’s appearance was clean, smiling and the body was not affected at all despite it almost being a week,” she said, adding two bullets had struck the boy.

“The family is relieved; everything is over. Of course, we are deeply saddened by Haziq’s death, especially since we had not seen Haziq for a long time, but we are grateful that he was eventually found.”

On Haziq’s father, Tarmizi, who was also injured in the shooting, Zarina said his health has improved and her youngest brother has been allowed to leave the hospital.

She said her family members were discussing holding a tahlil session for her nephew.

She also thanked the government for rendering its assistance to her family in New Zealand. – Bernama, March 21, 2019.