A respected figure in Pahang's UMNO Youth movement has died in a devastating accident that claimed the lives of three family members, leaving the party's leadership and local community in mourning. Mohd Radzi Rahimi, 40, the treasurer of Pahang UMNO Youth, was killed along with his wife Nuriani Mohammad Jafri, 36, his five-year-old son Muhammad Rizz Hazim, and his brother-in-law Mohammad Nizam Mohammad Jafri, 35, when the four-wheel-drive vehicle they occupied was crushed by a fallen tree on Tuesday afternoon near Janda Baik in Bentong. The tragic incident occurred at approximately 1 pm on the old Kuala Lumpur-Bentong road, cutting short the lives of a closely-knit family and removing a promising political figure from the party's ranks.
Mohd Radzi's father, Rahimi Abd Samad, 63, described his son as someone who had dedicated much of his adult life to party politics and grassroots activism. For approximately a decade, the younger Radzi served within the Maran UMNO Youth division, eventually ascending to the position of divisional youth chief before his subsequent appointment as treasurer of the broader Pahang UMNO Youth organization. This trajectory reflected the confidence that party elders had placed in Radzi's abilities and commitment to party politics, demonstrating his steady rise through the ranks of the youth wing over the years.
The elder Rahimi recalled his final conversation with his son, which took place on Thursday, two days before the tragedy. He noted that Radzi had mentioned his intention to participate in a motorcycle convoy activity with young party members heading to Pulau Pangkor in Perak. According to Rahimi, the conversation was ordinary, with nothing suggesting the calamitous events that would unfold just 48 hours later. The family had been en route back to Maran after completing their participation in a youth-focused motorcycle programme when the fallen tree struck their vehicle, leaving no time for evasion or escape.
The impact of Radzi's sudden death reverberated through UMNO's upper echelons, with senior party officials making their way to the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital in Temerloh to pay their respects to the bereaved family. UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh visited the hospital, as did UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Shahaniza Shamsuddin, who also holds the position of Maran UMNO division chief. Additionally, Kuantan UMNO division chief Datuk Seri Ab. Hamid Nazahar attended to offer condolences. These visits underscored the esteem in which Radzi was held across the party hierarchy and the regard with which colleagues and superiors viewed his contributions.
While the adult members of the family perished in the incident, one of Radzi's sons survived the immediate catastrophe but sustained severe injuries. Muhammad Rizz Haziq Mohd Radzi was hospitalized with serious head trauma and remained under medical care at the hospital's intensive treatment unit. The survival of one child, even under such grave circumstances, provided a small measure of solace to the wider family circle, though his recovery trajectory remained uncertain as he battled the consequences of the accident.
The incident raises broader concerns about road safety along the Kuala Lumpur-Bentong route, particularly in areas near Janda Baik, where fallen trees and hazardous weather conditions can pose unpredictable dangers to motorists. The old highway, less frequently travelled than its modern counterpart, may lack the rigorous maintenance and hazard-monitoring systems that newer routes receive. This tragedy highlights how even routine family outings and recreational activities can be interrupted by natural hazards that might have been preventable through proper forestry management and road upkeep.
The medical examinations on the deceased were completed by Tuesday evening at 9 pm, clearing the way for the family to proceed with funeral rites according to Islamic tradition. The bodies were to be brought to Masjid Kampung Paya Luas in Temerloh for the ritual washing and shrouding process before being transported to Masjid As-Syakirin in Maran. Funeral prayers were scheduled at the Maran mosque, followed by burial at Taman Sri Chendung Muslim cemetery, allowing the community and party colleagues to gather for final respects.
Mohd Radzi's death represents a loss not only to his immediate family but to the broader political ecosystem of Pahang, where youth leadership is crucial for the party's organizational vitality and succession planning. The loss of an active, well-respected youth official who had demonstrated commitment and capability will necessitate that UMNO address gaps in local youth leadership within Maran and the surrounding districts. His decade of service and the relationships he had cultivated within party structures underscore how integral such figures become to their organization's functioning at the divisional level.
For residents and political observers in Pahang, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how suddenly circumstances can change, transforming an ordinary family outing into a catastrophe. The convergence of recreational activity, family bonding, and political duty—all of which motivated Radzi and his relatives to undertake their journey to Pulau Pangkor—came to a tragic halt on a rain-vulnerable mountain road. The community's response through official condolences and the attendance of high-ranking figures reflects both the esteem in which Radzi was held and the collective shock that has accompanied his unexpected passing.
