But that was before Adib was attacked while doing his duty during a fracas in the vicinity of the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ25, Subang Jaya.
Now that he is dead, the villagers are reeling in shock.
A resident, who only wanted to be known as Jamilah, said she, like many others, was shocked to hear that Adib had been injured. She had taken part in prayers for his recovery.
She said Adib was a well-mannered boy and was very eager to get married.
“We were told by his parents there would be a big makan at Mentaloon in Alor Setar.
“It is so sad to see him go away like this,” the 62-year-old woman said when met at the As-Saadah mosque at Kg Tebengau here today.
Earlier, Adib was buried amid a grand send-off by the people of Tebengau, who are mostly padi farmers and fishermen.
Adib’s cousin, Amirul Ameer Azmi, said Adib, in preparation for his marriage and to start a family, had bought a Perodua Myvi car two months ago. Adib wanted it to be his wedding car, Amirul said.
Amirul said large stacks of wedding invitations remained to be distributed following Adib’s admission to hospital.
“The wedding preparations were almost 80% complete,” he said.
Adib’s other family members appeared apprehensive when approached by the press.
Earlier, Adib was given a teary farewell by his would-be wife Nurul Najihah Mohd Radzi, 25.
She broke down in tears as she watered the grave of her fiancee, together with Adib’s father Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid, 63, while mother Asma Aziz, 50, was consoled by a group of her friends.
Adib died at 9.41pm yesterday at the IJN Hospital in Kuala Lumpur after being in intensive care for nearly three weeks. He leaves an elder brother and two younger sisters.
He was one of the first responders to the Seafield temple fracas on Nov 27 when a few vehicles were set ablaze in a protest against the temple’s planned relocation.
Adib was alleged to have been beaten up by a mob and was rushed to hospital. He was reported to have sustained broken ribs and had internal complications.
Adib had a long line of VIPs visiting him in hospital and had earlier shown signs of recovery.