PETALING JAYA: "Dad promised to meet us today," says the child of the victim of a tiger attack at a worker's quarters in Bagan Balak at Kilometre 79.2 of the East-West Highway between Gerik and Jeli, on Tuesday.
In an interview with Sinar Harian, Nur Nazirah Adnan, 29, said that her father, Adnan Ismail, 54, had contacted the family to inform them that he was planning to return home after more than a month of being away.
However, Nazirah didn’t expect that she and her siblings would only be able to see their father's body.
"Dad mentioned that he wanted to come home today (Wednesday, Oct 16) to give us school expenses and to change the car tyres," she said when met at her mother's house, Roslaiti Sulaiman, 48, in Kampung Ngangoh on Wednesday (Oct 16).
She added that her father had only been working for five months as a heavy machinery driver in a forested area near Bersia on the East-West Highway between Gerik and Jeli.
On Tuesday (Oct 15), it was reported that a wild animal attacked a man in a forest area near Bersia and the victim’s body was found at noon, about 100 metres from the worker's quarters.
Perak Police Chief, Datuk Azizi Mat Aris, said the incident is believed to have occurred between 5am and 6am when the victim went to the toilet at the location of the incident.
Sharing about the incident, Nur Nazirah said she was informed by her stepmother, Saina Binsa, that her father was attacked by a tiger when he went to the toilet at the worker’s quarters to take ablution water.
Nur Nazirah said at that time, her stepmother, who they call "Mak Su," had just left the toilet after taking her ablution water and had entered the house.
"Mak Su said she suddenly heard the sound of a tiger biting and immediately opened the door. Unfortunately, in the blink of an eye, my father was already dragged by the animal, not far from the worker's quarters," she said.
Nur Nazirah added that she was informed that her father was pounced on the neck and back, resulting in severe injuries to his chest and the loss of his left leg.
The second child of ten siblings, Nur Nazirah said she received a call from a cousin at about 6am informing her of the incident.
"I was shocked and speechless. We are now just waiting for dad’s 'return'," she added.
Meanwhile, Nur Nazirah mentioned that her father's body is still at Taiping Hospital for a post-mortem and is expected to arrive at 10pm tonight for burial at the Kampung Kenor Muslim Cemetery.
