KOTA TINGGI: What was meant to be a kenduri kesyukuran (thanksgiving feast) celebrating Mohamad Haiman Fitri Supian’s family moving into their new second-generation in Felda Bukit Waha here has instead turned into a sombre tahlil gathering.
Haiman Fitri, 16, fondly known as "Aiman", "Pipit" or "Man", is the only victim still missing after he was feared to have drowned while bathing at Tanjung Lompat Beach, Bandar Penawar, on Wednesday (Sept 2).
His uncle Shahrizal Ibrahim, 41, said the family had gathered expecting a joyous celebration, only for the occasion to turn sombre following the incident involving his nephew.
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Shahrizal said the last time he met Aiman, the eldest of two siblings, was on Sunday (Aug 30), when the teenager appeared quieter than usual and hardly spoke.
"I’m not that close to him, but whenever we met, we’d usually chat.
"But that day, he was different. He didn’t even look at me and hardly said a word. I never thought it would be the last time I saw him," he said when met at the beach on Friday (Sept 4).
Shahrizal, whom Aiman affectionately called "Pokde", said he rushed to the scene from Johor Baru after his younger brother called him to tell him about the incident.
He said his family and friends had searched for Aiman since the day of the incident along the beach towards the rocky area, as well as Tanjung Balau.
"Our friends also helped search around the beach. His father could not come today as he has been on a wheelchair since suffering a stroke three years ago," he said.
Shahrizal said Aiman was a quiet boy who rarely spoke much, but would always let his family know whenever he planned to go out.
ALSO READ: Body of missing boy found, search continues for remaining teen
He said all the family could do was continue praying that Aiman would be found soon and leave the rest to Allah.
It was reported earlier that six boys from a group of 15 who went camping at Pantai Tanjung Lompat near Tanjung Balau got into trouble while swimming on Wednesday.
Two of them, Mohamad Faqrul Isqandar Abdullah and Muhammad Afiq Ruzaini Mazlan, both 16, were rescued by beach-goers.
The bodies of three victims, also all aged 16, have been recovered: Muhammad Thaqif Rayyan Rumainoor, Alif Taqiuddin Kamal Hasrul and Muhammad Adib Hafiy Kamal.
The search and rescue operaiton for Aiman is ongoing. – Bernama
