Family of croc victim receives monthly aid

0

THANK YOU : Three year-old-daughter of crocodile victim Mankay Goheh seems to appreciate the kind gesture of a sympathiser who presented her with a milk packet. Holding her is her aunt Jauyah Rambli while her mother Sapaun (right) sits next to them.

KUCHING: The family of the late Mankay Goheh, a crocodile victim at Sungei Seblak, Kabong, is now receiving a monthly childcare assistance of RM450 from the Welfare Department.

However, the family has not received a special fund of RM20,000 from the department’s  head office in Kuala Lumpur for a person killed by protected species – in this case a salt water crocodile or estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).

This monthly financial assistance was confirmed by Saratok Welfare Department officer Dayang Abra Abang Ibrahim to The Borneo Post yesterday.

“The monthly childcare assistance will be given to the family until all the children attain the age of 18 years old.

“The family started receiving the aid from our department beginning from the month of July after they reported the case to our department in May after the incident,” she said.

“As for the RM20,000, they have to wait for sometime as it is for very special consideration and only approved by the Welfare Department head office,” revealed Dayang Abra.

She also explained that one of the victim’s children Azzley Azwiena Fendi, who is nine years old and is handicapped, will receive the monthly assistance for the rest of her life.

Thirty-nine-year-old Mankay Goheh was the latest victim of an attack from a giant reptile in the river.

On a fateful morning on May 22 this year, Mankay and his friend Ahim Wok, 30, were in their boat and about to go home after fishing during the night when he was mauled and killed by a killer reptilian.

He leaves behind a 37-year-old wife Sapaun Rambli and six children aged three to 19 years old.

According to Kampung Emplam headman Johad Joh, there are probably 300 large and small crocodiles along the 18km stretch of Sungei Seblak, from the upstream town of Roban to Sessang bridge near the river mouth.

The recent five-day Ops Buaya costing a total of RM3,000 which conducted from July 18 to 22 to cull crocodiles in the river was called off by the authorities due to high costs.

Kampung Emplam is 30 kilometres from Kabong, and Sungei Seblak is a natural habitat for salt water crocodiles and is also rich with marine life, especially prawns.

Kabong, a sub district in Betong Division, has been in the news lately due the culling operation and the killing of two villagers Khamis Achong in 2007 and Mankay Goheh.