IPOH: A man did not expect that a phone call to his younger brother would be their last conversation before the latter perished in a water surge incident on Friday (Nov 15).
Muhammad Nasri Hamidi, 51, said that he had called his brother, whom he had not seen for two months, the day before the tragedy.
"My youngest brother, Mohamad Khairul Hakim, 37, is a senior assistant engineer in the Public Works Department (JKR) in Langkawi.
"He had time to inform me about his participation in activities involving his company on Thursday (Nov 14).
"He told me that he was going to Ipoh on business for three days and I asked him to be careful throughout the trip.
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"We had a long conversation about our families, especially his three children. I did not think that would be our last conversation," he told Sinar Harian at the Forensic Unit, in Kampar Hospital on Saturday (Nov 16).
Mohamad Khairul Hakim was one of the three JKR employees who were found dead after being swept away while taking part in water rafting activities in Sungai Jahang near Gopeng.
The incident also killed Central Seberang Perai JKR engineer Suhaili Mat Saad, 47, and Langkawi JKR customer service officer, Muhammad Ikram Abdul Bari, 29.
Muhammad Nasri said he felt sad as his brother’s children, aged between six and 12, were still young.
"His children, two girls and one boy, are still small and are quite pampered by their father.
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"He was a soft-hearted man and always helped take care of the children, including their meals and their nap times whenever his wife worked at night.
"We also recently lost our mother in November as well.
"He was a great sibling who helped the family, including taking care of our mother.
"Our mother just passed away this month and now he has died in the same month," he said.
The remains of Mohamad Khairul Hakim will be brought back to his hometown in Kampung Bukit, Pokok Sena, Kedah for burial.
It was reported that the incident was believed to have been triggered by continuous heavy rain, which led to a sudden rise in the water level of Sungai Jahang, resulting in a boat carrying six passengers and a guide capsizing.
