THE casket carrying the remains of a second year Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Geology major student involved in a tragic incident in Tawau, Sabah arrived at the Royal Brunei Airforce (RBAirF) Base in Kg Rimba yesterday evening.

Showing his support and care during hard times for his subjects, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office joined the grieving parents, family members, relatives and friends of the late Mohd Hazmi bin Haji Yakub at the RBAirF Base.

His Majesty also offered his condolences to the parents and family members of the late Mohd Hazmi.

The casket carrying the student’s remains was flown in from Tawau by RBAirF’s CN235 aircraft and arrived at 7pm, accompanied by the deceased’s sister Kartini Hj Yakub and her husband.

Waiting at the Rimba Airbase were the parents of the deceased, Hj Yakub bin Ibrahim and Hjh Raya bte Hj Alim who were in a very sombre mood but thankful for His Majesty’s presence.

Mohd Hazmi’s remains were later brought to Sultan Sharif Ali Mosque in Sengkurong for ‘jenazah’ prayers and were later buried at Bukit Sadur Muslim Cemetery in Kg Tanjung Nangka.

Search and rescue teams from Brunei and Sabah found the deceased at about 11.29am yesterday, four kilometres away from the scene of the incident in Sungai Balung.

The late Mohd Hazmi was one of the two students missing after being swept away by strong currents during a research field trip with 29 other UBD students and lecturers last Friday in Sungai Balung in Tawau, Sabah.

The remains of his fellow course mate Muhd Azizan bin Mohd Sidek was found a day earlier and was buried at Kg Pulaie Muslim Cemetery on the same day.

Meanwhile, after his visit to the RBAirF Base, His Majesty accompanied by HRH the Crown Prince also went to Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital to observe the condition of the other UBD students who survived but were injured and are currently receiving treatment.

His Majesty visited three students – Siti Lieyana Mohd Azffri, Ibnu Hafiz bin Zukefli and Nur Aishah Helena binti Haji Md Sharif – who are currently receiving treatment and under medical observation for minor injuries. The monarch interacted with the patients and their family members while the students and their families expressed their gratitude for His Majesty’s concern on their welfare.

In a press statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Government of His Majesty extended their heartfelt gratitude to the Government of the State of Sabah, Malaysia and all the agencies involved in the search and rescue operation for the last three days.

Also present at the RBAirF Base last night were Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Education; Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abd Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister’s Office; Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister of Health; and Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman, Minister of Religious Affairs as well as Deputy Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, and high-ranking government officials. - Borneo Bulletin (4 March 2013)