KUCHING: The remains of a Sarawakian couple who were electrocuted in Cameron Highlands recently were laid to rest at the Christian cemetery in Section 21, Shah Alam, Selangor on Sunday (March 13) afternoon.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said that the deceased’s three children were expected to be brought back to Sarawak with their maternal uncle tomorrow (March 15).
“Their uncle from the children’s mother side will be the guardian for the children of the deceased,” she told New Sarawak Tribune today.
She said during the post-mortem, the male deceased was found to be positive for COVID-19.
Earlier on, Fatimah said that she arrived in Shah Alam on Sunday (March 13) afternoon from Penang.
“Coincidentally, I was in Kuala Lumpur for an official function, and upon knowing that the burial will be at 3.30pm, I went there with Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKM) director Noriah Ahmad,” she said.
Fatimah also expressed her appreciation to non-governmental organisation (NGO) Anak Borneo Semenanjung (ABS) for the good job done in arranging the site for the burial which was not an easy task.
“I also want to thank the Pahang Social Welfare Department and Rumah Sarawak and thank Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail for their generous contribution and assistance to the family.”
Last Thursday (March 10), Bernama reported that the victims Damian Senin, 46, and Ronwina Mambai, 35, were found dead in a bathroom of a flat in Taman Tringkap, Brinchang in Cameron Highlands.
Preliminary investigations found burn marks on the palm of the woman, who is believed to have been electrocuted when she went to help her husband, who was using the water heater when the incident occurred.
They left behind their children Elisa Olivia Damian, 10, Joseph Rayyan Damian, 8, and 17-month-old Magdalena Damian.
Meanwhile, Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem in a Facebook post on Sunday (March 13) said that he had gone to Kampung Daha Kisau to offer his condolences to Damian’s family and be updated on funeral arrangements and about the children.
“Their uncle will be given custody and he has received approval from the Social Welfare Department,” he said.
Riot, who is the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to East Asia (South Korea, Japan and Taiwan), told the family that the children will receive the Survivors’ Pension under the SOCSO Scheme until they are 21 years old or until they get married.
“The late Damian was an active contributor to SOCSO, so his children will be entitled to the funeral benefits and a monthly pension,” he said.
Riot later went to the village of the late Ronwina Mambai in Kampung Ruan Tiong, Simunjan to meet the family members and the mother of the deceased for the same purpose.
“While at the home of the late Rowina, the funeral was conducted at the Christian cemetery in Shah Alam and thankfully the funeral went smoothly.
“Family members of the deceased saw the funeral ceremony being conducted via Facebook live. May their souls rest in peace,” he said.
Riot thanked the millions of netizens who showed their concern about the tragedy.
“I would like to thank Rumah Sarawak in Kuala Lumpur for its help on the matter. Thank you to all the ministers and MPs of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and thank you to Yayasan Serian who also helped, and the SOCSO Serian Office for their quick action to disburse the benefits,” he said.
