KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — Singer Datuk Nora Ariffin put on a brave face, and attended her late son’s convocation as well as going onstage to receive his diploma on his behalf.
The late Muhammad Syakir Alif Johan was supposed to received his Diploma in Filming at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) 95th Convocation Ceremony yesterday.
Nora took to Instagram to share snippets from the ceremony.
“Alif, this is for you. Mama helped pick it up for you. Alhamdulillah and congratulations.
“Our small family is proud and happy of your achievements my dear son Alif Johan, who managed to complete his diploma before he passed away.
“Alif, may you rest in peace over there,” she wrote in the caption.
Nora expressed her gratitude to all the lecturers and students, especially those from the Film, Theatre and Animation Faculty for their never-ending support.
In an interview which was shared on UiTM’s official Facebook, Nora shared that Alif would often help her with her creative work such as producing her videos as well as keeping her spirits high.
“Every day he would WhatsApp me asking ‘Mama are you okay?’ He was truly the one and we could feel his absence even more now that he’s gone.
“He’s also close with his elder brother and his younger siblings. His loss really hit us. First it was his father, now Alif.
“But it’s okay, we’ve accepted it and for us, no matter how much we loved them, Allah loves them more,” she said.
The 49-year-old singer said that her source of strength now is her three children and her grandchildren.
Nora also hopes that her younger children will be inspired to continue their family’s legacy after seeing her receiving her late son’s diploma.
Alif passed away on December 14, 2019 after he fell at their home.
In March 2017, Nora lost her husband, renowned composer, Johan Nawawi.
