LAWAS: A grieving son has confirmed that the body parts found by the river near Kampung Siang-Siang Laut, Jalan Trusan, belonged to his missing father, ending a tense two-day search in Lawas.
Jamam Tuah, 52, identified the remains as his father, Tuah Lamat, 80, who was reported missing since 9 September after going out to bathe at the jetty near his home at around 7.30pm. Following the discovery, Jamam lodged a police report to formally confirm the matter.
According to Lawas District Police Chief, DSP Liong Tindan, a search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched on 10 September, but the victim could not be located on the first day due to poor visibility. That same night, a human body part was discovered on the riverbank, about 500 metres from the location where Tuah was last seen.
“The remains were sent to the Lawas Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination. The case has been classified as a sudden death report,” he said.
The SAR operation, involving police, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force, and villagers, concluded on 11 September at 10.30am after confirming the recovery of the victim’s remains.
Meanwhile, a crocodile hunting operation has been activated by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) Miri, in collaboration with the Lawas Police, to address the possibility of crocodile involvement in the case.
Authorities have also issued a public advisory, urging residents and visitors to avoid carrying out any activities along the river within a 3-kilometre radius of Kampung Siang-Siang Laut while the operation is ongoing.
This incident has sparked concerns among locals, many of whom rely on the river for daily activities, highlighting the constant risk posed by crocodiles in Sarawak’s waterways.