Family devastated as newly engaged nephew among rowers missing in Sarawak Regatta training mishap

KUCHING (Oct 19): Just six days after his engagement, Muhammad Khairul Hisham Kasturi, 23, is among five rowers missing after a boat capsized during training for the Sarawak Regatta in the Sarawak River yesterday.

The victim’s uncle, Mohd Ridzuan Aban, 64, from Kampung Rebak, Asajaya, said the family was devastated by the news of the tragedy that struck his newly engaged nephew.

“I actually received the news quite late, as the incident happened around 4pm, but we only heard about it as ‘maghrib’ (dusk) was approaching.

“We were shocked and immediately rushed here,” he said when met at the search and rescue (SAR) operations centre in Bintawa here today.

He was even more surprised after learning that his nephew had joined the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UPKS) team of the Premier’s Department for the Sarawak Regatta, scheduled for early November.

“From what I know, Muhammad Khairul wasn’t the type who liked water sports and wasn’t used to boats. Besides, he couldn’t swim.

“So, I was taken aback when I found out he had joined the regatta, especially as he wasn’t familiar with boats and couldn’t swim.

“But that’s the nature of tragedy – it can strike at any time. We are deeply saddened, but the most important thing now is that we hope he is found,” he said.

Mohd Ridzuan also mentioned that Muhammad Khairul’s fiancée, Najwa Anizan, was present at the SAR operation centre but was too grief-stricken to speak.

He expressed hope that Najwa would remain strong through this difficult time and that a miracle would bring his nephew, the eldest of two siblings, back to them.