Four boys aged between eight and 12 were laid to rest together in Kulim following a tragic drowning incident earlier this week. The victims—Muhammad Zafril Arsyad, 12; Muhammad Iman Nuruddin Khairol Anuar, 10; Muhamad Aeril Aziz Muhamad Zafis, 12; and Muhammad Arif Naufan Abdullah, eight—drowned while attempting to retrieve a football from a drain at Taman Desa Kayangan, Sungai Karangan on September 14.

According to police reports, two of the boys died at the scene, while the remaining two succumbed to their injuries during transportation to Hospital Kulim. The bodies were later taken to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Setar for post-mortem examinations before being transferred to Kulim for burial.

More than 500 family members, friends, and community members gathered at Masjid Jamek Nurul Ehsan Muslim Cemetery in Kulim to pay their respects during the funeral service. The four boys, who lived in the same neighborhood, had grown up together and were known to be close friends.

Muhammad Zafril Arsyad’s father, Muhammad Azrin Saidin, described his son as an active and adventurous child who enjoyed fishing and exploring different places. He noted that Muhammad Zafril was familiar with the area where the drowning occurred, as he often visited the site. Muhammad Azrin recalled that his son had been looking forward to the arrival of a new baby brother, due in November, and expressed his happiness upon learning the baby would be a boy. He added that Muhammad Zafril was responsible and caring towards his younger siblings, aged five and three.

Siti Aisyah Abdullah, Muhammad Zafril’s mother, shared that her son had been excited about becoming an older brother but did not survive to see the child’s birth. She also mentioned that Muhammad Zafril had been unwell with a fever and had stayed home from school the day before the accident.

The incident has left the local community in mourning as they come to terms with the loss of the four young boys, who had shared close bonds both in life and in death. Authorities have not released further details on the circumstances leading to the drowning.