ON HIS FINAL JOURNEY

Azahari 'Zairey' Ahmad
(1968-2001)

WHEN Zairey, the group leader of Raihan, spoke of the deaths of some of the group's fans during an interview last Friday, it seemed as if he had a premonition of his own demise the following day, which was his birthday. ''Puji-pujian (a song in praise of God) is the most significant,'' Zairey said. ''It has brought smiles to many dying fans. There's something very tranquil and serene about the music and lyrics.

''Once, a girl dying of leukaemia requested her mother to play the song and her last wish was to see us. We made a surprise visit. She was elated and star-struck when she saw us. Her whole face lighted up and tears streamed down her cheeks when we sang for her. It was one of the most heart-rending moments. Her family became our friends but our little fan died three years later.''

Zairey then related three other incidents about how that song had touched the lives of dying fans. All the while, one could detect that Zairey was feeling very melancholic. The rest of the Raihan members - Che Amran, Nazrey (lead vocalist) and Abu Bakar - just listened and allowed Zairey to talk about those dark, emotional moments.

He seemed distant and wore a far away look on his face that afternoon, even when he was talking about Raihan's upcoming projects and its latest album release, titled Demi Masa. Asked if he was feeling okay, Zairey said: ''Maybe I am a bit tired.''

However, God had willed that it was to be the last interview for the soft-spoken 33-year-old Zairey. He died from a massive heart attack the following day while attending the radio station ERA Awards night at Genting Highlands.

He was born Azahari Ahmad in Gopeng, Perak, on Sept 29, 1968. Friends and relatives called him Zairey. He is the fifth of nine siblings and a student of the graphic design school at Univeristi Sains Malaysia in Penang. Zairey married Hazura Hamdan in 1994; he is survived by her and their three children, Jijie, 6; Imad, 5, and Anna, 3. Zairey had a history of asthma and suffered asthma attacks the past three years. According to his close friend and fellow group member Che Amran, Zairey complained that he wasn't well last week. A doctor advised him not to attend the ERA Awards because of his weak condition and the cool weather up in the highlands but a dedicated Zairey refused to listen.

He complained of chest pain and dizziness halfway through the event and collapsed shortly after that. He was rushed to a Genting Highlands clinic where he was pronounced dead. Zairey was laid to rest at his wife's kampung in Pekan, Pahang, on Sunday. The group will later make an announcement as to whether Raihan will go on as a threesome or recruit another member to take Zairey's place. A spokesman for Warner Music said the company will soon be throwing a kenduri in memory of Zairey.Demi Masa, Raihan's fourth album was supposed to be launched today but due to his unexpected death, plans have been postponed indefinitely.

Unlike other times, Zairey seemed a bit low-key last Friday. Throughout the one-and-half-hour interview, he requested the other members to sing almost all the 10 songs instead of explaining each song at length like he always did.

''We are recording Puji-pujian again. It's now called Puji-pujian II. Rudy Ramaway (managing director of Warner Music Malaysia) had a dream that we should do this song again. This time we have given it more universal lyrics,'' explained Zairey, insisting that his friends sing a few bars of the song.

The Bonds of Love, composed by Abu Bakar, has lyrics written by Zairey. According to Zairey, the song is about how each one of us can be bound together by love, regardless of religion, culture or age.

''This song is especially for Raihan's fans. It's not easy to come up with an English song that can be accepted by all. I wrote the lyrics after doing some homework about the things that happened around us lately,'' he said.

Songs on Demi Masa include the title track, Tihamah (the old name for Mecca), The Bonds of Love, Mari Berhibur, Carilah Cinta (which says the greatest love of all is one's love for the Creator), Yang Disembah (for young children mastering the basic tenets of Islam), Asbahulkahfi (a song about old history which is told in story form) and Puji-pujian II.

Then there's Kita Sama, which takes on a simple folk tune composed and written by Nazrey.

''But you should listen to Kasih Sayang. I dedicate this song to you and your family. This ballad is about how love builds a happy family. It's composed by Farihin Abdul Fatah while the lyrics are by his wife, Kak Ain. I am sure you will like it. Please sing it for her,'' Zairey asked his friends.

''Anyone who listens to this song will want to reach out and make peace with people whom they were at odds with before. It's very soothing. I recommend it.''

Before adjourning the interview session for the Friday prayers, Zairey asked his friends to autograph Raihan's postcards and publicity tag. Each of them had a different maxim written on their individual postcards. Zairey had chosen the words ''Pray Hard Work Smart'' which is incidentally going to be the promotional tagline for their Demi Masa album.

''It's important that we not only work smart but pray hard as well for the two go hand in hand,'' explained Zairey.

For Zairey, working smart did not mean that you should play truant or cut corners. It's how you divide your time for yourself and God, and as his friends testified, Zairey had strictly adhered to this maxim throughout his relatively short life.