KUCHING: Norainaa Arbi had been looking forward to her big day in December this year, which was supposed to be her wedding day with her 32-year-old fiance, Majurie Maharuf.
The 30-year-old from Mukah, was set to solemnise her vows with Majurie, whom she has known since secondary school, on Dec 27, followed by wedding receptions the next two days.
All her dreams and hopes were shattered when Majurie, along with four other regatta rowers, went missing after the boat they were on capsized in Sungai Sarawak on Friday.
"All of the preparations for the ceremony, including the booking of the bridal dais for the wedding, had already been made by him (Majurie).
"And now that he's gone, my wish to marry him will never come true," a visibly grief-stricken Norainaa said when met at the Sarawak General Hospital's forensic unit today.
Norainaa said their wedding receptions were supposed to be held at her home in Kampung Penakub Hulu, Mukah, on Dec 28, followed by a reception at the groom's house in Kampung Baru, Balingian, the following day.
"He had repeatedly said he was looking forward to it and that he could not wait for our special day.
"After we got engaged in August, we seldom met since he was working in Kuching while I was in Mukah," she said, adding that she had known Majurie since they were in secondary school at SMK Mukah.
Norainaa said she immediately rushed to Kuching after she was told on the incident involving Majurie.
"The last conversation that I had with him was before the Friday prayers on the day of the incident via WhatsApp.
"He told me that he was involved in the regatta training session and that he would return to his village next month.
"Later that day, I was shocked by the news that he was missing after the boat he was on capsized," she said.
Majurie's body will be brought home to Kampung Baru Balingian for funeral prayers before he is buried at the Sungai Sayu Cemetery in Balingian.
It was reported today that the bodies of all five victims in the incident have been found today.
A spokesman from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department's operations centre said the bodies were discovered floating at the estuary of Sungai Sarawak this morning.
Kuching police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah also confirmed the matter.
Apart from Majurie, the other victim - Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Kasturi - who had just gotten engaged to Nur Nazwa Anizan Bujang, 23, last Sunday, was also planning to get married soon.
Nur Nazwa's father Bujang Sulai, 64, said his daughter and Muhammad Khairul had known each other for a long time and had been friends since they studied at the same school at SMK Asajaya.
"We want them to marry after Nur Nazwa's brother, who works in Perak, has his wedding next month.
"I did not expect him (Muhammad Khairul) to leave us so soon. It is just heartbreaking that his body was found exactly a week after their engagement.
"I accept this fate, but I am saddened by this since my daughter is still in shock over the loss of her fiance," he said.
He added that upon receiving news of the accident involving Muhammad Khairul the day before yesterday, Nur Nazwa had to be rushed to the hospital because she fainted.
"I hope Nur Nazwa can accept this. I understand her feelings when losing a loved one, especially just a week after they got engaged," he said.
It was reported that the five victims went missing and feared drowned after the boat they were on with 11 others capsized in Sungai Sarawak near Royal Bay Commercial Centre, Jalan Buruh Bintawa here.
Apart from Majurie and Muhammad Khairul, the other victims were identified as Mohammad Ikhmal Sama'ail, 34; Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, 26; and Mohamad Khairul Bidin, 26.
The other 11 participants managed to save themselves during the incident.
The rowers were undergoing training for the highlight of the Sarawak-Kuching 2024 Waterfront Regatta Festival, which will be held from Nov 1 to 3.
A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call on the incident at 4.20pm and a team was dispatched to conduct a search and rescue operation.