Kawan Mas salvage operation called off, monument for victims

The operation to refloat the Kawan Mas express boat which capsized at Giam Bungan in the Upper Rajang on May 28 has been called off.

This was announced yesterday by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu after visiting the scene of the fire that swept through Kampung Datu and Kampung Hilir on Wednesday afternoon.

He told reporters that the salvage operation had to be called off because it was too dangerous for the salvage team to dive into the turbulent water of the Upper Rajang.

He added that a monument would be built at the Bungan rapids to mark the scene of the tragedy and in memory of those died in it.

Meanwhile, Belaga police chief DSP Bakar Sebau Bakar said yesterday the location of the wreckage is now uncertain as it may have drifted further downstream from its last traced position on June 15 which was about 350 metres away from Giam Bungan resting on the riverbed rock at a depth of about 18 metres.

Bakar added the team led by him had continued with their surface search operation and the fate the two passengers still listed as missing, Roslin Jati and Maurice Ajan, had not been officially confirmed.

Although the body of a man found floating near Rumah Lat last Monday has been identified as that of Maurice by his mother the police still have to wait for the result of a DNA test to officially confirm its identity.

Bakar said the post-mortem would only be carried out on June 25 at Bintulu Hospital mortuary as the pathologist in the hospital was currently outstation.

Monday 24 June 2013

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/06/21/kawan-mas-salvage-operation-called-off-monument-for-victims/