11-07-2025
Victim of Bali ferry sinking desired to live rest of his life in Indonesia
KUALA LUMPUR: "If my life ends, I want it to be in Banyuwangi." That was the message that Malaysian Fauzey Awang, 55, sent to his daughter Syifa Amerah Fauzey, 25, before he died in the ferry tragedy off the coast of Bali, Indonesia.
Fauzey's remains were discovered yesterday after a seven-day search-and-rescue (SAR) operation.
Syifa Amerah said she received the message on May 20 and the family had decided to bury him in Banyuwangi, east Java, to honour his final request.
Fauzey's body was identified by Indonesian authorities yesterday and Syifa, along with her mother who is Fauzey's former wife, are currently en route to Banyuwangi Hospital.
Their journey is expected to take around four hours from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya.
"My father's body is still at the hospital, awaiting the arrival of other family members from Malaysia. As per his earlier request, he will be buried in Indonesia.
"Our family accepts his passing and respects his wish to be buried there. We just hope everything goes smoothly," she said today.
Syifa Amerah described her late father as a kind man who was well-liked by many. She last spoke to him on July 2 before being informed by an individual in Indonesia that her father was among the victims of the incident.
It is understood that Fauzey had travelled to Indonesia to be with his current wife — Syifa Amerah's stepmother.
"My father usually travelled to Indonesia every three months, but he still worked and stayed in Malaysia," she added.
Syifa Amerah added that her siblings and other relatives would soon travel to Indonesia to pay their final respects.
On July 2, KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry, which was carrying 53 passengers, 12 crew members and 22 vehicles, reportedly sank in the Bali Strait. Investigations into the cause were still ongoing.
Earlier, it was reported that Indonesia's Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team has identified three of the four victims recovered from the tragedy — including a Malaysian.
According to Indonesian media Antara News, East Java Police Forensics Subdirectorate chief Assistant Commissioner Adam Bimantoro said one of the deceased was 58-year-old
Malaysian named Fauzey Awang.
The identification was based on medical data and personal effects, including a wallet and an identity card.
Another victim was identified as Noval Hardiansyah, a 15-year-old Indonesian from the Banyuwangi regency.
