Sombre atmosphere at Sarawak policeman's funeral

Amid the sad atmosphere under a white canopy, scores of low and high-ranking policemen led by Sibu district police chief, ACP Stanley Jonathan Ringgit saluted in respect, as Nicholester's father, Sgt Unggat Piun also gave his salute, with tears flowing down his cheeks.

Even RTM Sibu broadcast journalist, Madelina Jawai Stephen who was covering the funeral could not hold back her tears as she remembered her father Stephen Bilong Liwen, an ex-policeman who died years ago.

Unggat, who is attached to the Special Branch in Kuching was thankful to the Johor police contingent led by Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, the Bandar Dato' Onn police station, Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail and Stanley for the arrangements to bring home his son's body to Sibu.

"It is my hope that the top officers of the Royal Malaysia Police will appreciate, consider and do the best for my son and that he will be remembered as a hero in the police force," he said in his short speech at the chapel of the memorial park, earlier.

Unggat said although he and the family were sad by the demise of Nicholester, they would remain strong and spirited.

But when it was time to lay the chrysanthemums on his son's coffin, Unggat was seen collecting all the strength he had got left, touching the hearts of those present.

Sobbing, Nicholester's mother Elizabeth Salang, his grandfather Salang Kaya, elder sister Elizcavelynicy Unchi, brother-in-law Hycinth Joneka, the rest of the family members, relatives and friends also laid flowers to bid their farewell.

Nicholester, 20, completed his basic training in May this year at the Sarawak Police Training Centre (PULAPOL) before being posted to the Bandar Dato Onn police station in Johor.

He was killed in a road accident when a patrol car he was in crashed into an SUV and overturned while in high pursuit of suspected criminals in a car at Jalan Kangkar Tebrau/Jalan Tun Teja in Johor Bahru about 5 am on Nov 1.

Between 2 pm and 9 pm the same day, four suspects comprising a woman and three men aged between 24 and 29, were nabbed in a series of raids by the Johor Bahru South Criminal Investigation Department in Kampung Melayu Selong, Senai and Kampung Melayu Pandan in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, Elizcavelynicy yesterday wrote on her Facebook page saying how she had many things that she wanted to say to her brother, fondly known as Dadup.

"But it is already fated that you can only hear our prayers told to you by God. Take a rest my love. Don't you ever regret or be worried about us here. As long as we know that you are with God in heaven, we are happy. My love, my hugs and kisses for you always," she wrote in Iban language.

A friend, Larry Walter posted a video of him singing an Iban song, 'Nadai Nasib Panjai Begulai' as a tribute to Nicholester.

"Before this Dup, whenever you hear me sing, you would ask me to continue as you like to listen to me singing. This is my last song to entertain you. Sleep well my friend," he wrote.

Nicholester was laid to rest in full police honours, coincidently next to the grave of the late Thomas Liang, a rigger who was buried last Saturday after he died of drowning in the MV Dayang Topaz incident, 7.7 nautical miles off Kuala Baram in Miri on Nov 27, an incident which had also saddened Sarawakians.