Ditched bride going to court, finally

[My Malaysiana]

From The Star

Ditched bride to sue footballer
BY RIZAL ABDULLAH AND ZARINAH DAUD

KLUANG: The tears have dried up for Norlida Abdul Rahman, the bride who was left high and dry by her Kedah footballer groom hours before their wedding ceremony, and she is now going to sue him.

Yesterday, she appointed lawyer K.S. Dass to take legal action against former international footballer Hasmawi Hassan who has returned to his mother's home in Bukit Mertajam after going into hiding for the past three days.

"I have already instructed my lawyer to take the necessary legal action. I have left everything to him," said the 23-year-old nurse.

"This should not have happened to me and it hurts. Hasmawi did not bother or even have the courtesy to explain himself. Neither did his family nor relatives.

"I also cannot forget the look on the faces of my colleagues when I told them what had happened when they came to my house. I cannot describe the embarrassment it had caused me and my family."

Norlida, who works at Kelinik Kesihatan Kayu Ara Pasong in Pontian, and her family spent close to RM20,000 for the wedding. Some 1,000 invitations had been sent out to relatives and friends.

She claimed that Hasmawi only informed her that the wedding was off via a short message service (SMS)- just 19 hours before the akad nikah ceremony at the bride's house in Felda Dengar in Kahang here.

"I am getting stronger by the day, thanks to the overwhelming support from my family, relatives, friends and even strangers. I am simply overwhelmed by the show of support for me. It is very heartening and I take solace from their kind words of encouragement," said Norlida, adding that there had been no other suitors since her story was made public.

In Bukit Mertajam, Hasmawi's mother expressed shame over her son's act but claimed he had informed Norlida of his decision to call off the wedding a few days before the SMS was sent.

The mother, who declined to give her name, said Norlida's superior called her a few days before the SMS incident.

"She told me Norlida had been crying and had fainted. Her superior wanted to know if the wedding was on.

"I told her that I knew nothing and would check with my son. When I asked Hasmawi about it days later, he said dia tak sampai hati (he did not have the heart).

"I do not know what he meant. But I am ashamed of my son's action towards Norlida and on behalf of my family, I extend my apologies to her," she said at her family home in Machang Bubuk here yesterday.

"I do not know where to hide my face and I think all mothers will understand my feelings right now. As Malays, we are bound by promises made and my son had not kept his promise.

"The family even made bunga telur (gifts for guests) and was preparing to have a kenduri (feast) this Saturday. We have already sent out 300 invitation cards."

The mother said Hasmawi, who returned home on Monday, went out early yesterday to avoid the media.

Recalling the day when Hasmawi went missing (Thursday), she said she had sent him out to buy the hantaran (gifts for the bride).

"He was still shopping when I called him at 3pm. However, he did not return home that night and on Saturday morning I called Norlida's mother and informed her about Hasmawi's disappearance," the mother added.

She said when Hasmawi returned home on Monday, he kissed and hugged her before asking for her forgiveness saying that he had brought shame to his parents.

"He cried but did not want to explain about his disappearance. He just said he needed time. He also told me that he had informed Norlida about his intention beforehand and followed up with that damaging SMS," she added.

From Berita Harian

Norlida lantik peguam saman Hasmawi

By Ahmad Naim Tahir

KLUANG: Jururawat, Norlida Abdul Rahman, semalam melantik peguam untuk mengendalikan tindakan undang-undang ke atas pemain bola sepak Kedah, Hasmawi Hassan, yang membatalkan perkahwinan mereka sebelum pernikahan berlangsung, Jumaat lalu.

Norlida, 23, yang ditemani abangnya, Mohd Zain, 28, dan abang angkat, Rosman Fozir, 25, pergi ke pejabat Tetuan K Siladass & Partners di sini kira-kira jam 2 petang semalam untuk berbincang mengenai kes berkenaan.

Peguam, K Siladass, ketika ditemui berkata, pihaknya akan memfailkan tuntutan saman mengikut peruntukan undang-undang am ke atas Hasmawi di Mahkamah Tinggi Muar, tengah hari ini.

"Norlida melalui pengalaman menakutkan. Bagi gadis muda sepertinya, ini sesuatu yang menyukarkan. Dia sudah mengarahkan kami mengendalikan prosiding perundangan dan kami sedang melakukannya," katanya.

Siladass berkata, notis berkenaan mengandungi tuntutan ganti rugi am ke atas kesukaran yang dialami jururawat terbabit serta keluarganya berikutan kejadian yang amat memalukan itu.

Ditanya sama ada sebarang jumlah tuntutan ganti rugi dibincangkan pada pertemuan itu serta nilai dikemukakan kepada mahkamah, Siladas berkata: "Kami tidak bincangkannya... nilainya biar mahkamah tentukan."

Norlida yang kelihatan tenang dan tabah menghadapi kejadian itu, berkata keputusan mengambil tindakan undang-undang ke atas bekas tunangnya itu dipersetujui semua ahli keluarga.

"Ayah (Abdul Rahman Mansor) setuju (tindakan undang-undang)... semua ahli keluarga bersetuju," katanya, sambil menambah rasa kasihnya terhadap Hasmawi semakin terhakis ekoran peristiwa itu.

"Buat masa ini, hati saya sudah tertutup buatnya. Lagi pun, sampai sekarang dia atau ahli keluarganya tidak langsung menghubungi saya atau keluarga," katanya.

Gadis bertubuh langsing itu bagaimanapun sedikit sedih apabila ditanya sama ada dia sedia memaafkan Hasmawi jika bekas tunangnya itu atau ahli keluarganya memohon maaf.

"Saya masih kebingungan dan tak percaya perkara ini berlaku. Malu sangat. Perkara ini tidak seharusnya berlaku dan ia menyakitkan. Hasmawi langsung tidak memberi penjelasan, begitu juga ahli keluarganya.

"Kejadian ini menjejaskan masa depan saya. Jadi, saya sudah mengarahkan peguam saya untuk mengambil tindakan undang-undang sewajarnya dan menyerahkan segala urusan kepada mereka," katanya.

Kisah Hasmawi dan Norlida mendapat perhatian apabila pemain bola sepak Kedah itu memutuskan pertunangan mereka melalui khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS), kira-kira 19 jam sebelum pernikahan dilangsungkan, Jumaat lalu.

Bagaimanapun, majlis kenduri tetap diteruskan di rumah pengantin perempuan di Felda Ulu Dengar, Kahang Timur, Kluang, Ahad lalu berikutan kad jemputan sudah diedar kepada kira-kira 1,000 tetamu, rakan dan saudara mara.