ALOR STAR: The wife of Corporal Mohd Hafizul Izham, 35, fought back tears today as she remembered him as a devoted husband, loving father, and committed family man.

Nur Azhanis Mohd Yusoff, 36, spoke haltingly through her grief, paying tribute to her husband who was tragically killed in the line of duty yesterday.

Hafizul was responding to a robbery report during a break-in in Taman Golf when he was run over by a vehicle driven by a gang of suspects.

The four suspects were all detained within an hour of the incident.

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"He loved to help his family, his in-laws, everyone. He was a good man," she said to reporters at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital Forensics Department.

Hafizul, who was from Setiu in Terengganu, leaves behind three children aged four, nine and 11.

With more than 15 years in the police force, Hafizul was a dedicated policeman who spent his entire career in Kedah.

Azhanis, who began working at a private company just last month, said their final conversation was the day before the incident.

Hafizul had returned home late and was still asleep when she left for the office the following morning.

"Yesterday, before it happened, he went to pick up our child from school. He always did that, even when he was busy with work. His children adored him. They still don't quite understand what's happened," she said.

She added that there had been nothing in his behaviour to suggest those would be their final days together.

"Recently, he mentioned feeling a bit uneasy with his new duties. He used to be with the motorcycle patrol unit, but had recently been transferred to the criminal investigation department. But he said, 'What to do? That's work,'" she recalled.

Azhanis said they had been married for 12 years. Hafizul had served with the police force for 15 years.

Nur Azhanis Mohd Yusof, 36, the wife of Mohd Hafizul Izham Mazlan, 35, said that her husband loved to help his family, and that he was a good man. He is expected to be laid to rest in his hometown of Setiu, Terengganu. — STR/ WAN NABIL NASIR.

He is expected to be laid to rest in his hometown of Setiu, Terengganu.

Kedah police chief Commissioner Datuk Adzli Abu Shah described Hafizul's passing as a significant loss to the force, particularly in Kedah.

Investigations are ongoing under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder and Section 457 for housebreaking.