TWO ORANG ASLI BROTHERS DROWNED IN SUNGAI GILAT, HARDWORKING AND CLOSE TO FAMILY – FATHER

MACHANG, May 5 (Bernama) -- Two Orang Asli siblings who were found drowned in Sungai Gilat, Kampung Lubok Kawah, Kuala Krai, were known as close-knit children who were diligent in helping their family.

The victim's father, Rantau Atan, 45, said both of his sons had helped him in an oil palm plantation in Rompin, Pahang since they were young and they had worked for over a year tending to a watermelon crop in Kuala Krai.

"They are good children and since they were young they have been willing to work to support the family.

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"Before going to Kuala Krai, there were no strange changes in them. I was very surprised when I was informed that they had drowned because they were both good swimmers, but they had probably never faced the strong current and the whirlpool of the river,” he told reporters at the Machang Hospital Forensic Medicine Unit today.

Rantau attended the identification process of the body of his eldest son, Irruwan Rantau, 18, before going to the Tanah Merah Hospital with his father-in-law, Hamzah Yahya, 62, and several friends to identify the remains of his youngest son, Rahidi Rantau, 16.

Rantau said he accepted the passing of his two children and was consoled that their bodies were found in a short period of time.

“Previously, I had lost three daughters due to road accidents and illness. Now, Rahidi and Irruwan have also gone. "It's just me and my wife, Noriah Hamzah, 30, after all five of our children died," he said in a mournful tone.

According to him, the remains of both children will be brought home and buried in their hometown in Kampung Deraman, Rompin, Pahang, after the post-mortem.

Today, Bernama reported that the bodies of the two brothers were found drowned in two different locations, namely in Pengkalan Pasir, Paloh Rawa, Machang at 8.50 am, and in Pengkalan Pasir, Bukit Panau, Tanah Merah at 10 am today.

The incident occurred while they were fishing with relatives and friends in Sungai Gilat, yesterday evening. The victims were believed to have been swept away by the strong current during the incident.

It is understood that the family, along with more than 30 Orang Asli from Rompin, came to the village to work on a watermelon plantation and were scheduled to stay there for a week.

-- BERNAMA