Sunday, July 31, 2011

Rest Now Aleesha Farhana

Excerpts from New Straits Times, Sunday, Jul 31, 2011
KUALA TERENGGANU: Mohd Ashraf Hafiz Abdul Aziz, 26, whose application to change his name to Aleesha Farhana was rejected by the High Court here on July 18, died at 5am yesterday.
His mother, who wanted to be known only as Mak Yah, 50, told the New Sunday Times that Ashraf complained of nausea on Friday and was admitted to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.

She said at around 9pm, Ashraf asked to be sedated as he could not stand the pain. His blood pressure was very low.

"We went home at around 1am but the hospital called us to come in and see Ashraf immediately as his blood pressure dipped even lower at around 1.45am."
Mak Yah said Ashraf had informed her that he was worried about his chances of furthering his studies.

"He told me that even if the offer did arrive, it would not be on time."

Mak Yah said Ashraf had often told her that there won't be enough time to do anything.

Ashraf intended to file an appeal against the High Court decision on his application, but Mak Yah was not sure whether he had actually done it.

"He kept delaying doing things by saying tak sempat (can't do on time),"

Mak Yah said she hoped public condemnation of her family would end with the death of Ashraf.

"All the hype about him might have been a boon for the media but it did nothing for us," she said, adding that Ashraf was very depressed over the negative stories about him.

His father, Abdul Aziz Ahmad, 60, held a press conference at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital mortuary after his son's autopsy was completed at 3.30pm yesterday. He accepted Ashraf's death as fate.

He said Ashraf would be buried as a male according to Muslim rites at the Seberang Takir Muslim cemetery near here.

"He was born a male and, therefore, it is only right for us to bury him that way."

He said Ashraf had been acting peculiarly since a few weeks ago.

"He asked a relative to sew a baju kurung for Hari Raya Aidilfitri about two weeks ago.

"The relative was shocked as he wanted the dress to be completed immediately," he said, adding that Ashraf was happy when the dress was completed in about a week.

"Upon collecting it, he was very excited to celebrate Hari Raya, as the baju came with the sequins he requested,"

Aziz said Ashraf often uttered "Raya tak sempat, renew lesen kereta tak sempat" (I will not make it for Hari Raya, I will not be able to renew my driving licence).

"I did not know that it was a sign that he would be leaving us forever," he said, adding that Ashraf succumbed to low blood pressure, a condition he had been suffering from since childhood.

The New Straits Times reported on July 22 that Ashraf was looking forward to meeting Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil after she offered to help him through her ministry.

On July 20, Shahrizat said everyone should find ways to help Ashraf instead of condemning him.

In the end, he never got to meet the minister.

Friends and relatives attended his funeral at the Seberang Takir Muslim cemetery at 4.45pm yesterday.

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The people who think that they know best may scorn on you, rest now Aleesha for the Lord will keep you protected forever.  Al Fatiha