Father Grieves Loss Of Only Child In River Tragedy

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 13 (Bernama) -- No words can describe the grief of a father who lost his only child in a drowning incident at Sungai Jeram Hulu, near here, yesterday. 

Azman Wahab, 43, said the last time he met his daughter, Nur Shahila Shahirah, 12, was two weeks ago at a surau in Kampung Jeram, Manir, where he had given her some pocket money. 

Azman, who is a handyman, said after separating from his wife, Suria Sulong, 34, six years ago, he had set aside plans to remarry as he wanted to support Nur Shahila Shahirah and his former stepdaughter, Nur Afiqah Shahirah Mohd Shawalluddin, 15, who also perished in the tragedy. 

“Although we have separated, I continued to provide for Shahila and her elder sister, whom I regarded as my own child, especially since my ex-wife is intellectually impaired and is unable to work. 

“Two weeks ago, I met her at the surau in Kampung Jeram to give her some money. At the time, she kept apologising and seemed different, but I did not suspect anything and thought it was normal for a girl entering her teenage years,” he said when met by reporters after the burial of the two sisters at the Kampung Jeram Manir Muslim Cemetery here today. 

More than 50 people, including relatives and villagers, attended the burial, with both sisters laid to rest in a single grave. 

Azman said he regretted not being able to fulfil his daughter’s final request for RM50 to buy personal necessities. 

“Last week, she called to ask for RM50 to buy some things, but I told her I had not received my salary yet and asked her to wait until Thursday (tomorrow). I never imagined she would leave us so soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, the girls’ grandmother, Esah Salleh, 76, said the house now feels quiet and empty without her grandchildren. 

“Alhamdulillah, Suria has come to understand that her children are gone. Yesterday, she could not stop crying. It has only been a day, yet the house already feels so empty.

“Both of them lived with me since birth. I sent them to school every morning. Now I can’t even bear to look at the motorcycle, it’s just too painful,” she said. 

Yesterday, it was reported that the two sisters were found drowned in Sungai Jeram Hulu near here after bathing with two friends at about 3 pm.

-- BERNAMA