“We Never Gave Up” - Brother Recounts Search For Missing Family

ALOR SETAR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The family of Muhammad Azim Izat Ishak, who was found dead with his wife and four children inside a car submerged in Sungai Korok, Jitra, never stopped searching for them since they went missing on Saturday.

Muhammad Azim, 32, his wife Nurul Hidayah Khadijah Razman Efendi, 31, and their four children: Putra Rayyan Nur Izzat, 9; Hawa Adriana Nur Izzat, 8; Annayla Humaira Nur Izzat, 7; and Tuah Haydar, six months, were discovered inside their vehicle this morning.

“We never stopped searching for my brother and his family since they went missing last Saturday, right up until their car was found in Sungai Korok today,” said Muhammad Azim’s younger brother, Muhammad Adlan Solehin Ishak, 24.

Muhammad Adlan Solehin, who lives in Perlis, said he was informed of the family's disappearance by relatives and immediately joined the search, which had been ongoing for several days.

“The last time I saw my brother was on Friday morning when we had breakfast together. Even yesterday, we searched until late at night, but there was no sign of them.

“This morning, the police contacted us and asked us to come to the scene after they discovered a car in the river,” he told Bernama when met at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital’s Forensic Department here.

Muhammad Adlan Solehin said that he and his family later confirmed the car pulled from the river by rescue personnel belonged to his brother, based on several identifiable car stickers on the rear of the vehicle.

“I was told that when the firemen opened the driver’s door, they found all the victims’ bodies on the passenger’s seat at the rear of the car.

“All the bodies were sent to the hospital after identification process and I accompanied them in the truck. The post-mortem is currently ongoing, and the hospital said the earliest it could be completed is by Maghrib (sunset),” he said.

He added all six would be laid to rest in Jerlun, near the grave of the couple’s infant son, who died in February.

“The couple had twin boys, but one of them died during the confinement period. If they’re buried there, they will be reunited as a family of seven,” he said.

He also shared that the couple is survived by their eldest daughter, Puteri Qisya, 12, who was not with the family on the day of the incident.

Meanwhile, a cousin, Bashiroh A Hamid, 45, said Muhammad Azim Izat was very close to her family and the tragedy deeply affected all of them.

“After learning that the family had gone missing, we all went out to search. Even his eldest daughter joined in the search for her parents and siblings,” she said.

-- BERNAMA