Two students found drowned at separate locations

A student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Arau who was to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) next week was found drowned in a canal in Kampung Parit Haji Lateh, Jalan Tambun Tulang here, early this morning.

The student, Safiuddin Harun, 17, was found drowned under a motorcycle in the canal by his friends at about 12.30am.

Arau police chief Supt Ku Yaacob Ku Hamad said the victim who was riding a motorcycle was believed to have lost control and skidded into the canal beside a narrow tarred road in the village between 8pm and midnight.

He said the victim's body was sent to the forensic unit of Tuanku Fauziah Hospital (HTF) in Kangar for post-mortem and the case was being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

His body was laid to rest at the Muslim cemetery in Guar Sanji.

Meanwhile in Lahad Datu, a teenager drowned while swimming with a group of friends in a lake in Terusan Jaya, near here this morning.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Department Public Relations Unit head Mohd Affendy K Ramin said the victim, Mohd Firdaus Ali, 16, drowned while swimming with eight school friends during a picnic by the lake.

"Mohd Firdaus's body was found at about 7.53am, 33 minutes after a search and rescue operation was launched by the department," he said in a statement.

He said the victim was found about six metres from the site of the incident and the operation was mounted by seven firemen from the Lahad Datu station.