Pasir gudang: Two boys, aged 11 and 12, who were reported missing yesterday, were found drowned in a dam at Jalan Murai 2, Taman Scientex, Pasir Gudang early today. They were identified as Mohamad Haikal Ramzi Mohamad Khairudi, 12, and Mohamad Adam Farish Arman, 11.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pasir Gudang Senior Operation Commander Deputy Fire Superintendent II Firdaus Ahmad stated that the body of the 12-year-old was found at 2.12 am in water about two metres deep, three metres from the riverbank. "The 11-year-old boy's body was found at 2.33 am at the same depth and 15 metres from the riverbank. Their bodies have been handed over to the police," he said in a statement today.
The search and rescue (SAR) operation involved 19 firefighters from the Pasir Gudang and Skudai fire and rescue stations, assisted by the Water Rescue Team. Earlier, the Johor Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call regarding the incident at 10.36 pm. The boys' bicycles and sandals were reportedly found at the scene.
Meanwhile, 42-year-old Mohamad Khairudi Setapa expressed his shock and sorrow at the loss of his son, Mohammad Haikal Ramzi, and his friend Muhammad Adam. The boys, who had only known each other for a short time, were inseparable. Mohamad Khairudi described his son as well-mannered and friendly, making it easy for him to form a strong bond with Muhammad Adam.
"I never imagined he would leave us so soon, but I am willing to let him go as he was given to us by Allah to care for him for the past 12 years. He will always be my son, here and forever," he told reporters at the Pasir Gudang Hospital Forensic Medical Centre.
Mohamad Khairudi explained that his son usually went out to play in the afternoon and would return home before the Maghrib prayers. When his son did not come home, he began searching for him and eventually filed a police report around 9 pm. "His friends told me that they last saw him near the dam area. The first clue we had was when we found his bicycle near the dam," he said.
The family of Muhammad Adam, who studied at SK Kota Puteri 4, chose not to speak to reporters about the incident.