Husband recalls wife's final day before fatal floodgate accident

In a tragic incident near Sabak Bernam, Selaton Nuri, a 55-year-old Department of Irrigation and Drainage staff member, lost her life when her headscarf became entangled in a roller at a floodgate. Basar Maslan, her husband and security guard at the Sabak Bernam District Education Office, expressed his deep sorrow at not being able to meet his wife before her demise.

He was sleeping at home when his son-in-law informed him of the tragedy. Half-asleep and with numb legs, Basar drove to the scene to find his wife already gone. Basar, a devoted father of six children aged between 23 and 36, recounted that his wife was closing the floodgate due to high tide while accompanied by their second child.

The day before, Basar had called his wife, who had mentioned plans to go to the market and eventually visit the floodgate. He made numerous attempts to contact her but received no response, unaware that his wife's life would be cut short. Selaton had served as a gatekeeper for 21 years and had expressed her desire to perform the haj, waiting for a call to the Holy Land.

She was known for her kindness, generosity, and willingness to assist others. Plans for a bread-making course at her factory in Parit 9, Sungai Besar were on the verge of being executed when her life was tragically cut short. The body will be buried today at the Kampung Bagan Terap Islamic Cemetery after an autopsy scheduled for 9am.

The Sabak Bernam district police chief, Superintendent Md Yusof Ahmad, stated that the incident occurred while the victim was closing the floodgate due to high tide, and the case has been classified as sudden death.