BINTULU: Peter Julan, 28, gave his son Desmond Roy RM6 pocket money before he boarded the ill-fated express boat which capsized in Sg Anap Tatau near here on Monday.
That is the last pocket money the 10-year-old boy would get from his father, a timber worker in Tatau.
Desmond lost his father, mother Bermas Myium, 26 and his little sister Amilia Peter in the boat tragedy.
He did not accompany them to their kampung, Rh Ringkai Nanga Mejau, as he was in school.
The distraught boy would not talk to reporters when met at the Bintulu Hospital mortuary yesterday.
His uncle, Japar Rumpang, said the pocket money was for the boy to go to school while the rest of the family went back to their village for two days.
“I never thought that it would be the last thing Peter would give to his son,” said Japar, 45, who is Bermas’ brother.
Japar from Rh Jagang, Kemena River, added that he would act as Desmond’s guardian and ensure he continued studying at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tatau.
The body of Peter, Bermas and Amilia, 3, were found floating not far from the site of the collision.
They were on their way back to their village to ‘warm up the kitchen’.
Bermas’ sister, Dina said according to Iban customs, those with families need to ‘warm up the kitchen’ or visit their home at least once a month.
“But we did not expect his (Peter’s) return to bring sad news,” said Dina, 25.