Bodies found near Sarawak Barrage identified as regatta paddlers

KUCHING: The bodies of five men, recovered near the Sarawak Barrage earlier today, have been confirmed as the paddlers who went missing during a regatta training accident last Friday (Oct 18).

The victims have been identified as Muhammad Khairul Hisham Kasturi, 23; Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, 26; Mohamad Khairul Bidin, 26; Majurie Maharuf, 32; and Mohammad Ikhmal Sama’ail, 34.

All were members of the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS) under the Premier’s Department.

Kuching police chief ACP Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah in a press conference, said the identification process took place at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) mortuary.

“It is confirmed that all five are indeed the missing victims in the regatta boat capsizing incident.

“Two were identified by their fathers, two by their wives, and one by his mother. Post-mortem procedures are ongoing, and we expect the bodies to be released to the families for burial purposes today (Oct 20,” he said when met at the search and rescue (SAR) control post today (Oct 20).

Following the identification, the search and rescue (SAR) operation was officially called off at 10am.

The bodies were recovered between 6.16am and 7.09am, with firefighters retrieving the first three, the Sarawak Coast Guard locating the fourth, and the Police Air Wing’s Drone Unit discovering the last.

The incident occurred last Friday during a regatta training session near the Royal Bay Commercial Centre in Bintawa.

A boat carrying 16 participants capsized at 3.47pm after waves from a passing fishing vessel caused it to flood and sink. While 11 individuals swam to safety, five remained missing.

Authorities were notified at 4.20pm, prompting a large-scale SAR operation involving 13 agencies.