S'pore manager stabbed in Lombok was 'at the wrong place at the wrong time', says son
His wife is expecting their first child in June, and he had wanted to break the happy news to his father when they meet up next month.
But Mr Abdul Rahim Ahmad's father, Mr Ahmad Suri, was stabbed to death in Lombok, Indonesia, in an alleged knife attack on Saturday at about 9pm.
"My father told my mum that he was coming back to Singapore in February as we didn't get to meet up when he was back briefly in December last year. It is very sad," said Mr Abdul Rahim, 27, a process technician.
Mr Ahmad, 52, was a deputy general manager of an engineering company with a branch in Mataram Cityin western Lombok.
He had been based there for the last two years.
The Singaporean lived in a single-storey terrace house in a gated community with two colleagues from different countries. He had a part-time maid, a driver and a "helper". None of them lived with him, said Mr Abdul Rahim.
On the night he was attacked, Mr Ahmad was alone, as his colleagues were on leave and had gone home.
A neighbour who lives four houses away said he heard passers-by shouting for help, said Mr Abdul Rahim.
He added: "When he heard the shouting, he went to my father's house and saw a man holding a knife. Afraid, he gathered several neighbours and went back. The man then (surrendered and) gave the knife to him."
The neighbour, who is also the estate leader, went into the house and was shocked to find Mr Ahmad covered in blood.
He bundled him into a taxi and rushed him to a hospital, about half an hour's drive away.
Said Mr Abdul Rahim: "My father was still alive when the neighbour carried him, but he died on the way to the hospital."
He said his father had seven stab wounds on his face, neck and chest.
"He was at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Mr Abdul Rahim, who flew to Lombok on Sunday to identify the body. "No one seems to recognise the attacker. Whatever is the motive behind the killing, no one knows."
Indonesian media reported that a man named "Parto", 35,, had gone to Mr Ahmad's house to visit his own wife and child, who were staying there. The woman is reportedly a maid at the house.
QUARREL
A quarrel ensued and Mr Ahmad tried to intervene and asked the man to leave, the report said.
Unhappy and angry, the man allegedly turned violent and stabbed Mr Ahmad multiple times until he died.
Said Mr Abdul Rahim: "The police had told us that it was premeditated. But now that we are back (in Singapore), they said there's no intention to kill."
But finding out the truth does not matter to him now, as it would not bring his father back.
He said: "I've lost my father, there's no point in knowing what happened."
Eight family members, including him, flew to Lombok on Sunday to claim Mr Ahmad's body. His mother and uncle had flown over earlier. They declined having an autopsy done on him.
"As Muslims, we believe in burying the dead as soon as possible," said Mr Abdul Rahim.
His father's body arrived in Singapore on the same day and was buried the next day.
Mr Abdul Rahim said his family is still in shock.
"My father was a very well-liked person. Even though he had been there for only two years, he treated everyone there like family," he said.
Mr Ahmad had worked in countries like Malaysia, Cambodia, Japan and the Philippines since Mr Abdul Rahim and his brother, Mr Abdul Rahman, 28, were young. The siblings remained in Singapore with their mother as they were schooling.
"That was the biggest sacrifice he made to earn a living, leaving behind his family," said Mr Abdul Rahim.
He would see his father twice or thrice a year. They kept in contact via text messages and phone calls, and his mother, Madam Ermi, 48, a housewife, would visit his father once every three months.
Mr Ahmad was also a pious person.
The last photograph he sent to his family was a selfie of himself in a traditional Malay costume.
Said Mr Abdul Rahim: "He sent a picture of what he wore to the mosque on Friday for prayers."
He declined to share the picture.
"I've lost my father, there's no point in knowing what happened."
- Mr Abdul Rahim Ahmad
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