Kuala terengganu: The family of one of the contractor personnel killed in the incident at the Sepat floating storage and offloading (FSO) facility off Kuala Terengganu waters yesterday never expected a birthday greeting sent through WhatsApp would become his final message to them.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nurul Ain Shazwani, 30, said her brother, Nik Muhammad Hafifi Asri Ab Majid, 38, last contacted the family on Monday to wish their sister Nurul Ain Safiqah, 31, a happy birthday. "His message was simple - wishing our sister a happy birthday and praying for her wellbeing. We never imagined it would be his last message to the family," she told reporters at the Forensic Medical Department of Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) here today.
Before returning to work offshore on Sunday, Nik Muhammad Hafifi Asri had also reminded his sister to help manage his newly purchased house in KotaSAS, Kuantan, which he planned to turn into a homestay. The fourth of seven siblings had worked in the offshore industry for more than a decade, including eight years with the shipping company involved in the incident. He was supposed to return home on June 1.
Nurul Ain Shazwani described her brother as caring and deeply devoted to his family. The unmarried victim had been living with another sister at their late parents' house in Indera Mahkota 2, Kuantan. His remains will be taken to Al-Imam As-Shafie Mosque in KotaSAS for prayers before burial at the Setali Muslim Cemetery in Kuantan.
Meanwhile, the elder brother of another victim, Ahmad Fiqri Zakaria, said the last time he met the 38-year-old was during Hari Raya Aidilfitri at the end of March. Ahmad Syafiq, 40, who lives in Johor, said his brother had joined the shipping company about a year ago after previously working as a technician at a factory in Selangor. "I received the news at about 6 pm yesterday and immediately rushed to Terengganu. He studied at the Malaysian Maritime Academy (ALAM) and had previous offshore working experience," he said.
Ahmad Fiqri, the third of four siblings, leaves behind his wife, Siti Aisyah Ahmad, 38, and their 10-year-old son. Describing his brother as gentle, caring and always willing to help others, Ahmad Syafiq said the family would bring the remains back to Alor Gajah, Melaka for funeral prayers at Al-Najihin Padang Sebang Mosque before burial at the Padang Sebang Muslim Cemetery.
In the incident at about 12.50 pm yesterday, three offshore workers were killed while another was seriously injured after the lifeboat they were using plunged into the sea during maintenance work at the Sepat FSO facility. Another victim who died in the incident was Muhammad Faezuan Hakim Mohammad Bustamam, 28, while Mohd Taufik Mohd Ruslan, 37, sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment at HSNZ.