ONLY seven hours were given to make the decision to bring Datuk Mutang Tagal back to Malaysia.
It was indeed a tense, trying, and challenging moment for the parliamentary officers who were with him: Senior Private Secretary Mohammad Fahmi Mustafa and Senate Secretary Muhd Sujairi Abdullah, as well as the Malaysian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ahmad Kamrizamil Mohd Riza.
At that time, Mutang, 70, was intubated after suffering a heart attack.
The best treatment was only available in Malaysia, and as his chief of staff, Fahmi, along with the embassy, had to decide on bringing him back to Malaysia.
At that moment, Mutang’s official visit to Azerbaijan still had two days remaining.
He had been leading the Malaysian delegation to attend the 6th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.
He had even managed to visit President Ilham Aliyev, as well as meet Prime Minister Ali Asadov and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, before heading to Karabakh.
Mutang fell ill on the night of Saturday, May 4, while in Karabakh, a conflict zone. According to Fahmi, Mutang initially complained of stomach pain. After receiving treatment at a private clinic there, they decided to rush to Baku.
“We couldn’t use a helicopter for safety reasons because the area is a conflict zone and risky. Accompanied by a security team, we sped at around 180 to 200 kilometres per hour for a journey of 523 kilometres or a typical seven-hour drive to Baku.
The convoy finally arrived safely in Baku after more than four hours of travel, and Mutang was immediately admitted to a general hospital.
“After ensuring the treatment process, my colleagues and I fell asleep briefly in the waiting room, only to be suddenly awakened by the senior nurse on duty.
“They informed us that Datuk Mutang had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit due to a heart attack. His heart had stopped for 20 seconds.
“I was anxious and asked to see Datuk. At that time, he was intubated, with various medical equipment attached to his body. Seeing his condition, I asked the doctor to bring the President of the Senate back to Malaysia because his condition was quite serious, and the best treatment was in our country.
“The doctor said he would only consent to the release on the condition that the only plane capable of transporting Mutang was a medical jet equipped with medical facilities and nurses.
“That moment was indeed challenging. My colleagues and I, including the ambassador, discussed many things at that time. We needed to find the specified plane and secure a guarantee for payment. We contacted various parties, including in Singapore and Dubai.
“We even sought help from Hornbill Skyways based in Sarawak. Finally, we found an agent for the plane in Dubai and immediately sought assistance. Then we had to find funds for the plane, which was quite expensive.
“It became a complicated problem at that time because it was the weekend in Malaysia, and we didn’t have enough time.
“After hitting a dead end, I finally contacted the Senior Private Secretary to the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Khir Busrah, informing him of the problem faced by Datuk Mutang.
“Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg then clearly emphasised that under any circumstances, Datuk Mutang must be brought back to Malaysia and to not worry about the cost. The Premier’s answer was very reassuring, despite various options we had tried, including contacting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.
Even so, he said, there were still various issues to resolve, including the plane not receiving permission to land in Kuala Lumpur due to documentation problems.
“Fortunately, at that moment we received ‘good news’ when President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Heydar Aliyev, offered assistance and provided a medical jet to fly Datuk Mutang to Kuala Lumpur.
They then prepared Mutang for immediate transport on the plane to Kuala Lumpur, a journey of over 6,700 kilometres or about 10 hours.
“Datuk Mutang was in a coma, and we were racing against time. Every second was crucial. It was the scariest moment of my life,” said Fahmi, who had served for 11 years as an officer to Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
The flight carrying Mutang landed around 1am, Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, and he was immediately rushed to the National Heart Institute.
He fought for his life for a few more days.
Mutang, however, passed away around 11.46 am, last Friday.
As he had cared for him during the critical moments in Baku, Fahmi was by Mutang’s side when he took his last breath, and also during his burial at Fairy Park, Miri, last Monday.
Fahmi, 36, said the experience of working with Mutang was very special to him and unforgettable.
Unable to hold back tears, he spoke of the closeness Mutang shared with his team, like that of a family, even though they had only been together for two months and 21 days.
“He was a very humble, kind-hearted, and pleasant figure. The way he treated us, his officers and staff, his leadership, and his commitment to his responsibilities as President of the Senate was very special.
“He appreciated each of his staff, and for the flight from Sarawak to Kuala Lumpur, he would always contact us to ensure we reached home safely. He even made sure we had time to eat, even when busy working,” he said.
Fahmi revealed that Mutang only managed to enjoy his official residence a few days before going to Baku and had just used his favourite work desk, which arrived a few days prior.
“I also thank Datuk Mutang’s family for allowing us to take care of Datuk until his last moments,” he said.
Rudi Affendi Khalik is a writer, journalist, and producer at a TV and media content production company in Sarawak.
