LTA enforcement officer who died while chasing errant rider was looking forward to his wedding in July

SINGAPORE – He had sent out wedding invitations, finished the last of his preparations, and was looking forward to celebrating the joyous occasion with his family and friends in July.

But Mr Zdulfika Ahakasah, 26, met a tragic end on the morning of June 4. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) enforcement officer crashed his motorcycle

while chasing another rider who was attempting to flee.

He was taken to hospital, where he subsequently died, the police said.

An 18-year-old man, believed to be the rider the officer was chasing, was arrested for suspected drug-related offences, possession of scheduled weapons, and various driving-related offences, added the police.

In a Facebook post on June 5, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said the man was arrested in a residential unit along with a girl, 17, and a woman, 33, who were also detained for drug-related offences.

The man was also wanted by the Central Narcotics Bureau for prior drug consumption offences, Associate Professor Faishal added.

A video of the incident posted on the SG Road Vigilante – SGRV Facebook page shows the officer on his motorcycle pursuing a rider on the shoulder lane near an expressway exit.

The rider appears to be slowing down his motorcycle at first, but then makes a sudden swerve to the right and cuts into the path of a lorry.

The officer follows closely behind, before crashing his motorcycle into a road divider.

Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post on June 5 that the case is being investigated by the LTA and Traffic Police.

He said: “I am extremely saddened by the tragic news that an LTA enforcement officer, Mr Zdulfika Ahakasah, had died... Our enforcement and front-line officers perform their duties with courage and dedication.”

Mr Zdulfika’s brother, Mr Radin Ilahi Ahakasah, told The Straits Times on June 5 that Mr Zdulfika was excited about getting married. He had known his fiancee for about five to six years.

The 47-year-old said he received a call from his sister at around 11am on June 4 that Mr Zdulfika, who was the youngest of six siblings, had been taken to hospital.

Mr Radin, who works as a personal driver, said: “Once I got the call, I rushed to the hospital and was the first of my family members to reach there. The doctor told me that my brother was gone, and I couldn’t believe it.”

He added that his parents and Mr Zdulfika’s fiancee Nur Syaina were heartbroken when they found out he had died.

He said: “At the hospital, my mother was crying and shouting, ‘Please save my son! Please give me back my son!’

“His fiancee was also in a very bad state. She has been crying since yesterday, and it’s painful to see her like that.”

Mr Zdulfika’s oldest sister, Ms Siti Werdanengsy, said he was a kind and lovable brother who enjoyed making his family laugh.

“He was a happy-go-lucky person and had lots of friends. There was always a smile on his face. He never got angry,” the 49-year-old housewife said.

She added that he would often go the extra mile to take care of his siblings even after they moved out of the family home in Ang Mo Kio.

Mr Radin said that Mr Zdulfika, who had previously worked in the police force and Aetos, took his work as an LTA enforcement officer very seriously.

He said: “His boss told me that my brother was very hard-working, never gave any excuses and saw his job as a big responsibility.”

Couple met at polytechnic

The hearse arrived at Mr Zdulfika’s Housing Board block in Ang Mo Kio at about 2pm.

More than 50 friends and relatives had gathered at the flat, which the LTA officer shared with his mother, from 10am.

Mr Sapiee Noordin, 78, a neighbour who lives on the second floor of the same block, said it was as if he had lost a grandson.

He said Mr Zdulfika was a polite man who would always greet him when they bumped into each other at 5.30am, as the LTA officer was leaving for work and Mr Sapiee was heading to the mosque.

Miss Nur Syaina’s mother, who did not give her name, was at Mr Zdulfika’s flat with her daughter, who was inconsolable.

She said in Malay: “We accept our fate, but it is a very difficult time for my daughter.”

Miss Nur Syaina’s uncle Rosli, 45, said the couple met when they were students at Temasek Polytechnic.

“Everything for the wedding had been settled, including the honeymoon. Now we’re just trying to make sure Nur Syaina is cared for,” he added.

Several of Mr Zdulfika’s friends from Temasek Polytechnic also turned up at the family home.

Mr Azri Ramdan, 28, shared that the last time they all met was about two years ago.

“He was already riding a motorcycle when we were students. He was not an inexperienced rider by any means,” Mr Azri said, adding that his friend was a family man who was always jovial.

The last fatal accident involving an outrider performing LTA enforcement duties was in 1990.

Corporal Tan Tiang Hwa, who was with the Registry of Vehicles, which later merged with three public entities to form the LTA, was killed after he stopped a lorry along Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim that reversed into his motorcycle.

In 2017, Traffic Police Staff Sergeant Nadzrie Matin, 29, died following

an accident along Serangoon Road

where he was performing his duties.

The accident on June 4 comes in the wake of a fatal incident in May, which saw 30-year-old firefighter, Captain Kenneth Tay Xue Qin,

killed while fighting a fire on a ship.

He was the second Singapore Civil Defence Force firefighter to die in the line of duty.