POKOK SENA: It was supposed to be a joyful trip for seven Public Works Department (PWD) Langkawi branch staff members as they attended the wedding of a former colleague in Perak today.
However, their trip ended in tragedy when two of them drowned, together with another colleague from Penang after a rafting boat they were in overturned in Sungai Jahang, Kampar, yesterday.
"It is a massive loss to Kedah PWD. We lost very good, helpful colleagues in the tragedy," said PWD Kedah director Ir Mohd Fisal Ismail.
The victims were PWD Langkawi branch senior assistant engineer Mohamad Khairul Hakim Hamidi, 37, and his officemate Muhammad Ikram Abdul Bari, 29.
The incident also claimed the life of Suhaili Mat Saad, 47, who was attached to PWD Seberang Prai Tengah branch.
Fisal said the victims were among seven Langkawi branch staff members who went to Perak to attend the wedding of a former engineer at the office.
"Probably they learnt about the team-building programme organised by the PWD Seberang Prai Tengah in Kampar and decided to participate in the water rafting activity," he told reporters after attending Khairul's funeral at Kampung Bukit Muslim cemetery here at noon today.
Fisal said the Kedah PWD Welfare Club would be extending immediate aid to the victims' families.
"The victims' families are also entitled for their pension and pending that, we will focus on immediate support to the families, including helping them to move out of Langkawi," he said.
Khairul's colleague in Langkawi, Mohd Helmi Hamid, 41, described him as a committed worker who loved helping others.
"He was a good worker who loved helping others. In fact, if villagers came to him about poor road conditions, he was quick to lend a hand," he said.
Helmi said he had grown close to Khairul since the latter was promoted and returned to Langkawi for a second posting two years ago.
"He previously worked here as an assistant engineer before transferring to Jitra to care for his ailing mother. Later, he was reassigned here after being promoted to senior assistant engineer.
"He was well-known among the locals, especially those in remote villages, because he often visited them to inquire about road conditions," he said at the PWD quarters in Jalan Ayer Hangat here today.
Helmi added that Khairul's wife was a Customs officer stationed at the Customs Complex in Dermaga Tanjung Lembung, Bukit Malut.