M'sian family of 6 found dead in car submerged in Kedah river

A Malaysian family of six was found dead inside a car submerged in Sungai Kurok, Kedah after being reported missing since Jul. 5.

New Straits Times (NST) reported that the Proton Iswara that the family was in had veered off the road and plunged into the river.

All six family members in the car died, including a 6-month-old baby.

What happened

According to The Star, the victims were found inside their car during a search operation on Jul. 7.

The water level had dropped, allowing a part of the car to stick out and be noticed, as reported in NST.

Senior Fire Superintendent Ahmad Aminuddin Abd Rahim from the Kedah Fire and Rescue Department told The Star that the recovery process was not easy.

The firefighters had to cut open to vehicle's roof in order to recover the victims' bodies.

According to NST, the bodies were found huddled together at the back and left side of the vehicle.

Initial investigations suggest that the car skidded off the road and into the river.

The victims have been identified as Mohammad Azim Izat Ishak, 32, his wife Nurul Hidayah Khalijah Razman Efendi, 31, and their four children aged seven, eight, nine and six months.

They leave behind a 12-year-old daughter, who was not in the car.

Sister of victim speaks up

Azim's sister, Nur Adilah Shuhada Ishak, told NST that the family had visited her in Taman Seri Aman on the night of Jul. 4.

As they were tired, she told them to rest before returning home. The family stayed the night and left at around 5:30am the next day and made their way to Azim's mother-in-law's house.

However, Adilah had heard from Azim's mother-in-law that the family never arrived.

After being unable to contact them, the relatives decided to lodge a police report, and also took to various social media platforms to appeal for public help to search for them.

They had also been searching the riverbanks since Jul. 5.

Adilah told NST that during her final meal with her brother, he had fed her lovingly without prompting.

"I was always close to him. Usually, I'd joke around and ask him to feed me. But that night, I didn't even ask — he just did it."

Second family tragedy this year

According to NST, the family had suffered another tragedy earlier this year.

They had lost one of a pair of twin infant sons in February 2025, due to health complications.

They were laid to rest next to son who died earlier this year

Adilah told NST that they planned to lay the bodies of the family next to their infant son's grave in Jerlun, Malaysia.

The funeral took place on Jul. 7 at around 10:00pm.

Funeral prayers were performed by over 500 people, including relatives, friends and neighbours.

The bodies were buried together in a single grave at around 11:20pm, near the grave of their infant son.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim extends condolences

According to NST, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim extended his condolences to the family on Jul 7.

In a post on X, he prayed for the strength of the victims' families.

"I am deeply saddened and heartbroken by the news of this heartbreaking tragedy involving the family of six. My heartfelt condolences to all the victims' family members. May they be granted strength in facing this immense hardship and may their souls be showered with blessings and placed among the righteous."

Top photo via N9 Radar/Facebook