PETALING JAYA: When jail warder Zakir Husin was assigned to death row in Kajang in 1997, the primary inmate he wished to see was Affandi Rahman, husband of the infamous killer Mona Fandey.
Like many individuals then, he had intently adopted the information protection of the couple’s homicide trial, which shook the nation.
Mona, Affandi and their assistant, Juraimi Hussin, have been convicted and sentenced to death for the ugly homicide of Mazlan Idris, a Pahang assemblyman, in 1993.
Given the chance to see the superstar inmate in particular person, Zakir mentioned he had a psychological image of Affandi as a brutal, sly and boastful man, akin to the fictional psychopath Hannibal Lecter within the movie “Silence of the Lambs”.
He mentioned he handed from cell to cell on his rounds on the second flooring of Blok Abadi, which on the time housed about 26 inmates.
“Then, there he was, sitting nonetheless and quiet on a prayer mat, the place he spent most of his time,” Zakir recalled in an interview with eNM.
Affandi was not liable to the violent outbursts of another inmates, who generally threw faeces on the wardens, he mentioned.
He and Affandi slowly constructed up an sudden friendship after a number of greetings, with conversations revolving round finance, economic system and enterprise.
“He wasn’t curious about empty dialog or gossip,” Zakir mentioned, describing Affandi as calm, articulate, and intellectual. Their conversations felt nearly like a discussion board.
Zakir mentioned Affandi wished in the future the nation would give beginning to businessmen who would be capable of construct empires overseas, fairly than be restricted within the homeland.
On one event, he mentioned, Affandi talked in regards to the 1997 Asian monetary disaster and, at one other time, described how he and his mates fought for correct housing for squatters.
“To him, the principle objective of doing enterprise was to not achieve private wealth, however to assist strengthen the nation’s economic system and turn out to be revered globally,” he mentioned.
However, generally, Affandi’s prepare of thought wandered within the center of the dialog when Mona got here throughout his thoughts, Zakir mentioned.
“He would whisper ‘Saya kasihan Maznah (I pity Maznah)’,” he mentioned emotionally, referring to Mona by her actual title, Nur Maznah Ismail.
Zakir mentioned he by no means pushed Affandi to speak in regards to the homicide, as a result of the matter had been handled in courtroom.
Their friendship lasted for 2 years earlier than Zakir was transferred to the Kuala Selangor district council.
The Mazlan Idris homicide, which concerned parts of witchcraft, fame and energy, gripped public consideration for weeks after his dismembered physique was discovered buried in a pit coated with cement.
Mona, a pop singer turned bomoh, and her husband have been reported to have hatched the plot to kill the politician in revenge over a land deal that went bitter.
The couple and Juraimi have been executed at Pudu jail on Nov 2, 2001, two years after the Federal Court rejected their attraction in opposition to their conviction. The Pardons Board additionally refused to grant them clemency.
“I knew the day would come, however I can’t assist however be overwhelmed with grief,” Zakir mentioned. “I’d by no means discuss badly about Affandi as he had served his punishment, and I pray that he will probably be forgiven within the hereafter.”
