Search on for man who could have jumped off bridge
KUCHING: A search-and-rescue (SAR) operation was launched yesterday to locate a mentally unstable man who was suspected to have jumped off a bridge in Batu Kawah a day earlier.
Muhd Shahrul Iffin Suidi, 29, was last seen leaving his family home at Jalan Batu KawahMatang on a motorcycle around 1pm on Friday.
He had on multiple occasions told his family of his intention to end his life.
His disappearance was discovered by chance around 3pm the same day when his father Suidi Suhaimi noticed Muhd Shahrul’s motorcycle atop Datuk Chong Kiun Kong bridge while making his way home.
“I had just picked up one of my children from school and was heading home when I happened to see my son’s motorcycle parked at the top of the bridge.
“When I couldn’t find him, I asked several shopkeepers nearby and was told that they had saw someone resembling my son standing at the railing of the bridge earlier,” said the pensioner when met at the scene of the SAR operation.
According to Suidi, his second child had been suffering from mental illness for some time and had spoken about taking his own life.
Muhd Shahrul, he added, had returned here about six months ago from Kuala Lumpur where he was admitted into a mental institution.
“We initially sent him to live with his elder sister in Kuala Lumpur, but then he got into some trouble and was placed in a mental hospital for about six months.
“He returned here about six months ago following his release and would keep to himself most of the time without bothering anyone,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said a SAR operation involving firemen, police, Civil Defence Force and army personnel was launched at 1.48pm yesterday, with searches conducted on the surface of the river and its banks.
“We do not know the fate of the victim although the father had informed us of his suspicion that his son may have jumped off the bridge as he had spoken of his intention to end his life,” said the spokesperson, adding there was no sign of the victim as of 6pm yesterday.