Hundreds pay last respects to offshore lifeboat victims

KUANTAN: Armed with umbrellas, hundreds of mourners braved heavy rain to pay their last respects to two colleagues killed in an offshore platform incident off the Terengganu-Kelantan waters, at the Setali Muslim Cemetery here today.

The deceased, Nik Muhammad Hafifi Asri Ab Majid, 37, and Muhammad Faezuan Hakim Mohammad Bustamam, 28, were buried in separate graves.

Dark clouds gathered over the state capital about 4pm before a downpour, accompanied by strong winds, began some 15 minutes later.

However, the rain eased as mourners, including family members, relatives and colleagues, proceeded into the burial ground when Nik Muhammad Hafifi’s remains arrived at 5.30pm.

He was laid to rest about 15 minutes later, followed by Faezuan Hakim at 6.15pm.

Earlier, funeral prayers for Nik Muhammad Hafifi were held at the Imam Ash-Shafie Mosque in KotaSAS after his remains were brought from Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Terengganu, where post-mortem procedures were completed.

Faezuan Hakim’s funeral prayers were held at the Cenderawasih Mosque before his remains arrived at the cemetery at 5.40pm.

Despite the rain, mourners — including those who travelled from outside the state — waited patiently to pay their final respects.

In the 12.50pm incident yesterday, Nik Muhammad Hafifi, Faezuan Hakim and Ahmad Fiqri Zakaria, 38, from Melaka, were in a lifeboat when it plunged into the sea.

The fourth victim, Mohd Taufik Mohd Ruslan, 37, survived with serious injuries and is receiving treatment at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described the incident as serious and called for a thorough investigation.

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المصدر: New Straits Times