Kuala lumpur: The remains of three family members who drowned when their boat capsized off Pulau Perhentian, Besut, on Saturday night will be taken home to Butterworth, Penang, and Sungai Petani, Kedah, for their final rites. Special Officer (Non-Islamic Affairs) to the Terengganu Menteri Besar, Dr. K. Balachandran, confirmed that post-mortem examinations and other formalities for S. Arumugam (40), his daughter A. Sarrvihka (three), and their relative V. Vennpani (10) were completed at about 4.30 pm today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the bodies of the father and daughter will be sent to Butterworth, while the third victim will be taken to Sungai Petani. A family member informed the authorities that the 15 passengers, from four related families, had arrived for a holiday last Friday and were due to travel back to Sungai Petani and Butterworth today.

The family had finished dinner on Pulau Perhentian Kecil and were heading to Pulau Perhentian Besar when their boat was hit by strong waves and overturned, claiming three lives. Balachandran mentioned that surviving passengers and the families of the deceased are still traumatised and have requested privacy, expressing gratitude to all agencies and volunteers who assisted.

The tragic incident occurred at about 10.30 pm on Saturday. The boat was carrying 15 passengers aged between three and 40. Three people died, while one passenger remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ).