KUCHING: “Kitak sik sayang kamek lagikah?” (Don’t you love me anymore?) — those were the final words spoken by 12-year-old Arif Fahmi Aiman Mohd Tinggal to his mother before he left home to cast nets at the river this morning.
It would be the last time they saw each other.
Shortly after, Arif was killed after being attacked by a crocodile while casting nets in the river near Kampung Empila, Samarahan.
His father, Mohammad Tinggal Ali, 52, said he found it strange that his son had said those words, especially when there had been no tension or disagreement with his mother.
“I’m still puzzled when my wife told me what Arif said before he went to the river,” he said when met at the mortuary of Sarawak General Hospital (HUS), where the family was awaiting the post-mortem.
Arif was reportedly attacked by the reptile while alone in a small boat at around 7.30am.
According to a witness who was fishing nearby, the boy had been casting his net from the boat about 10 metres away from his. The man said he heard a scream and turned to see what had happened — but Arif had already disappeared from sight.
The boy’s body was later found by the search and rescue (SAR) team at 9.50am, after his shirt got caught on an anchor used during the search operation.
Mohammad said that when his son’s body was recovered, the casting net rope was still tied around his arm.
“He had different hobbies from most children, who are usually busy with gadgets. My son would go to the river almost daily to cast nets.
“He started out enjoying fishing, but since last year — when he was in Year 5 at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Empila — he began casting nets instead,” said Mohammad, who works as a security guard at the same school.
So passionate was Arif about the activity that he had seven casting nets — five of which he bought himself using money from selling prawns he had caught, while the remaining two were gifts from his father.
“I still wonder why he was so obsessed with net-casting and so brave to go to the river in the early morning while it was still dark. Even I’m afraid to go there, knowing how many crocodiles live in those waters.
“That was his daily routine. If he wasn’t at the river, he’d be at the canals fishing,” he said.
Mohammad also expressed his sadness that Arif would not be able to fulfil his wish of completing his khatam al-Quran ceremony later this year.
“His outfit for the khatam al-Quran event was already prepared, and he had been really excited about the ceremony.
“But I accept what has happened. We loved him dearly, but Allah loves him more,” he said, holding back tears.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
