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RELATIVES of a married couple found dead with severe injuries in Sri Aman have been advised to seek legal guidance through the courts to determine the lawful custody of the couple’s three children, as welfare authorities move in to provide interim care and psychosocial support.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the children are currently under the temporary care of their maternal uncle, but stressed that any long-term guardianship must follow due legal process to safeguard their welfare and rights.
“For the time being, the three children are being cared for by their uncle,” she said. “However, the next steps must follow proper procedures and we are asking the family to apply through the court so that a decision can be made on who is suitable and eligible to care for the children.”
Nancy said officers from the Social Welfare Department had recorded the details of the three siblings, comprising two girls and a boy.
She was speaking to reporters after attending the handover ceremony for the Madani Adopted Village programme under her ministry at Kampung Buntal Hall in Santubong today.
She described the incident as deeply shocking and noted the widespread sympathy for the children, who are aged between nine and 17 and are all still in school.
The youngest, a boy, is in Year Four, while his two sisters are in Form Four and Form Five respectively.
According to Nancy, the Social Welfare Department has already assigned officers to provide psychosocial support to the children and will also channel assistance under the department’s existing provisions.
“At the same time, we will extend aid using allocations under the Social Welfare Department,” she said.
The couple were found dead with serious injuries at their home in Taman Mutiara, Jalan Brayun, Sri Aman, yesterday morning. Police received a report from members of the public at about 6.55 am after the victims were discovered unconscious.
Initial examinations confirmed that both victims, a 45-year-old man and his 44-year-old wife, had died at the scene.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah was reported as saying that the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder. He said the motive and cause of the incident remain under investigation, with efforts ongoing to gather evidence and witness statements.
It is understood that the male victim was serving as a headmaster at a school in Lubok Antu, Sri Aman, while his wife was a nurse. Their bodies were discovered by their son as he was preparing to leave for school after noticing that they had not come out of their bedroom.
The bodies were transported to the Forensic Unit at Sarawak General Hospital today for post-mortem examinations. - January 15, 2026