JOHOR BARU: The body of Royal Malaysian Navy diver Leading Seaman 1 Arman San Hermansa, 28, who died while carrying out a salvage operation to recover the wreck of a navy vessel KD Pendekar, has been claimed by his wife.
Norazliana Bakri, 25, was among the large crowd of the deceased’s loved ones as well as Navy officers and personnel who gathered at the Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) forensics department from around 8am on Thursday (Aug 29).
At around 12.50pm, a Navy vehicle was seen leaving the hospital grounds with the late Arman San’s remains.
His coffin was brought to the Senai International Airport to be flown to the Tawau Airport in a Royal Malaysian Air Force aircraft.
He would be buried in his hometown Lahad Datu, Sabah.
Norazliana Bakri (right) waiting to claim her husband, Leading Seaman 1 Arman San Hermansa's remains at Hospital Sultan Ismail in Johor Baru on Aug 29.
Earlier on Thursday, Bernama reported that Norazliana requested that the public not speculate about her husband’s death.
In a Facebook post, she said the authorities were still investigating the matter, so the public should refrain from making assumptions about the incident.
She also expressed hope that people would not spread unverified information about her husband’s death and asked for the public’s understanding of her situation.
Arman San, who served in the navy’s Diving and Mine Warfare Headquarters, died while recovering the wreckage of KD Pendekar, which sank in the waters off Tanjung Penyusop, Pengerang in Kota Tinggi on Aug 25.
KD Pendekar sank after experiencing a leak believed to be caused by hitting an underwater object.
Swift action by the maritime community saved all 39 crew members on board the ship before it was completely submerged.
