5 days ago
‘I swam towards it': Friend's emotional search for missing influencer
He added that the car windows were open and the doors unlocked, but murky water made it difficult to tell if Ija was inside.
Mohammad Syahmi shows a photo of Tengku Nizaruddin who is feared missing.
MUAR - A desperate friend swam through murky waters to inspect a sunken car, only to confirm it belonged to missing influencer Ija Nizaruddin, intensifying efforts to locate him in Sungai Tui, Muar.
Muhammad Syahmi Mansur, 30, who has been close to Ija for years, recounted the moment he and several friends sprang into action after learning about Ija's disappearance on Monday night.
"We were told his car had gone missing, so that same night, nine friends and I searched for Ija based on the last known GPS location provided by his wife," he said.
Their night-long search stretched as far as Muar, but to no avail. It was not until the next day that a clue emerged.
'Coincidentally, a Rela officer told us they spotted a car in the river. When I took a closer look, I swam straight towards it.
'I saw the car accessory shop sticker belonging to Ija on the rear window and I was certain it was his car,' Syahmi said.
He added that the car windows were open and the doors unlocked, but murky water made it difficult to tell if Ija was inside.
'I tried diving and felt like there was something when I extended my foot, but I was not sure. I immediately informed the police and the fire department came to inspect,' he shared. Search and rescue operations at Sungai Tui involve both police and fire department personnel.
According to Syahmi, Ija had planned to drop off his car at a friend's workshop in Muar before visiting his younger brother, Tengku Abdul Aziz, in Bukit Kepong.
Syahmi also mentioned that Ija never had enemies.
'We have known each other for a long time, through thick and thin. Ija was always a very positive person.
'The last time I saw Ija was the previous Sunday and that night we managed to talk about shirts over the phone,' he said.
Syahmi hopes for Ija's safe discovery and prays the authorities find new leads.
Pagoh Fire and Rescue Station Operation Commander, Nor Alfatah Omar, confirmed his team responded to a call on Tuesday and found a Perodua Axia submerged in roughly two metres of river water.
Meanwhile, Muar District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz, confirmed that a full search and rescue (SAR) operation is underway.
'Police urge members of the public with any information related to the incident to come forward or contact the Muar District Police Headquarters (IPD) to assist in the investigation,' he said.
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