NIBONG TEBAL: She was affectionately known as “Kak Chik” among her loved ones.
But now, the family of Suhaili Mat Saad (pic) is grieving their loss as the 47-year-old drowned in a rafting accident in Gopeng.
Moments before the disaster, she had sent a selfie to her family with the river visible in the background, said her sister Ruhaili Mat Saad, 43.
Although the water in the photo appeared quite treacherous, the family did not think to intervene at the time, she said.
“When Kak Chik sent the selfie, no one made any remarks about it until I received a phone call at around 6.30pm from a medical worker who urged me to call out her name and offer words of encouragement before the call was abruptly cut off,” she recounted to reporters yesterday, Bernama reported.
Shortly after, she said she received a second call, informing her that her sister did not survive the ordeal.
Suhaili worked at the Public Works Department in Penang. She lost her life alongside two colleagues while rafting at Sungai Jahang on Friday.
Ruhaili said that her late sister, who was single, lived with their mother in Taman Ilmu.
She described the late Suhaili as a quiet and gentle person.
“There were five of us siblings.Kak Chik was the second child.
“Among all of us, she was the most polite and gentle. It was difficult to imagine her participating in something like team-building, especially since she wasn’t particularly drawn to adventurous pursuits.
“Perhaps she sought to overcome her fears, which might have been the reason she chose to take part in the programme,” she said.
Suhaili’s remains were laid to rest at 11.15am yesterday, next to the grave of their father, who passed away more than 30 years ago, at the Permatang Pasir Muslim Cemetery in Bandar Baharu, Kedah.
