COMMENT | Irene Sofiya Khairool Faisal dreamed of becoming a doctor like her late mother.

Idlan Fareeq Shahril was a Negeri Sembilan state cricket player. Yap Shing Xuen spent her weekends running and hiking with her family.

Zara Qairina Mahathir harboured hopes of being a school religious prefect (badar).

They were young people with ambitions, interests, relationships and futures that should have extended far beyond their secondary school years.