BERNAMATV CAMERAMAN WAS VERY KEEN TO JOIN THE MISSION - FATHER

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd
Nor, 39, who was killed by a stray bullet while on a humanitarian aid mission
with Putera 1Malaysia Club in Mogadishu, Somalia, had participated in similar
humanitarian missions before.

Noramfaizul's father Mohd Nor Mat Yassin, 66, said his son had covered
humanitarian aid missions to Gaza (Palestine) and Pakistan in the past.

Before leaving to Somalia on Aug 28, Noramfaizul was looking very cheerful
and excited. He told me that he was going to Somalia with the Putera 1Malaysia
Club's humanitarian aid mission, said Mohd Nor.

"He was always interested in cameras and loves to be involved in volunteer
services. But we did not expect this to happen but we accept it as fate," he
told Bernama at his residence in Taman Serdang Raya here Friday night.

Noramfaizul who was born on Nov 14, 1971 was the eldest of six siblings who
first joined Bernama in 2002.

His mother Naemah Abdul Majid, 63, said two days before leaving to Somalia,
the family held a prayer (doa selamat) while Noramfaizul had bought new shoes
for his two children to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

"I did not notice anything strange before he left. Before leaving to Somalia
he had given me some money to pay the house rent and also some money (duit raya)
for me and his father.

"All family members were present to sent him off. I am certainly sad but I
accept it as fate and GOD's will. I hope his soul will rest in peace," she said.

Meanwhile, family members, friends and well wishers started arriving at the
late Noramfaizul's house after hearing the news which was telecast by local
television stations.

Among those who arrived early were Bernama Editor-in-Chief Yong Soo
Heong and Bernama TV Synergy Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Engku Emran Engku
Zainal Abidin.

Neighbour G. Marimuthu, 65, an ex-Royal Malaysian Air Force personnel and
his wife G. Saraswathi, 63, who had known the late Noramfaizul and his family
since 1989 after shifting to the housing estate, came over at 11pm, after
learning of his death.

"Before leaving to Somalia, 'Faizul' as he is known, had informed my wife
that he was going to Somalia. He was always cheerful and we both are saddened by
his demise," said Marimuthu.