BANTING, Feb 20 — The post-mortem process involving a body believed to be of a commando found in the Tanjung Sepat mangrove swamp area near here today will be carried out at the Banting Hospital at 9am today (February 20).
Kuala Langat District Police chief Supt Ahmad Ridhwan Mohd Nor @ Salleh said the body was identified by his brother.
Ahmad Ridhwan said the body, clad in a diving suit, was found in a mangrove swamp at Batu 8, Kg Batu Laut, Tanjung Sepat by members of the public at about 10.30am.
“The body of the deceased will be autopsied tomorrow (today) at the Banting Hospital to find out the cause of death,” he said in a statement today.
On February 7, Lance Corporal Edrin Baintim, 25, who is a member of the Army’s special forces unit, was reported missing while undergoing diving training 0.7 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Undan.
The victim is said to have disappeared during the ‘Pari Harimau’ diving exercise he was attending which comprised six officers and 37 participants from the Sungai Udang Special Warfare Training Centre.
Meanwhile, when contacted by Bernama, Edrin’s brother, Fikri Abdullah, 41, said although saddened by the loss of his youngest brother, he was relieved and thankful that the body had been recovered.
When asked about the reaction of their parents who lived in Kampung Maliau, Tongod, Sabah, Fikri said it was difficult to describe.
“Mother and father still have not accepted the fact that their beloved youngest child is gone. Prior to this, he (Edrin) had told us that he wanted to go back home, but he could not find the time to do so as he was very busy with his duties,” he said.
The private sector worker also said they managed to meet Edrin during the recent Chinese New Year holiday.
“At the time, he (Edrin) had two days off, so we gathered at our sister’s house in Klang, but he did not seem different at the time, just cheerful as usual,” said Fikri Abdullah, who lives in the Peninsula with five other siblings.
— Bernama
