Baby's death dumped in river: Princess Nur Afiyah returns to village with father to collect medicine

TANJUNG SEDILI, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

A five‑year‑old girl was found dead after being allegedly thrown into a river in Kampung Padang, Tanjung Sedili, on Monday, police said, and the suspect was arrested shortly after the incident was reported.

State Assemblyman for Sedili, Muszaide Makmor, visited the victim’s father at Tanjung Sedili Health Clinic on Monday afternoon, offering condolences and saying, “Moga keluarga ini diberikan ketabahan atas ujian yang sangat berat ini.” He added that the suspect, described as “kurang kewarasan” (lacking sanity), acted “di luar jangkaan” (outside expectations) and had accompanied the family back to Tanjung Sedili before the fatal act.

According to the police report, the suspect – identified as the victim’s uncle – allegedly threw the child into the river and then brandished a machete, chasing the 40‑year‑old father. Superintendent Yusof Othman, Kota Tinggi District Police Chief, said the suspect was detained after the police received the report at about 9.30 a.m.

He noted that the child was discovered lying on the riverbank roughly 300 metres from the family home after a relative, Mahani, realised the girl was missing while they were having breakfast. Mahani recounted, “Puteri kemudian bermain buaian dan selepas itu saya mula tercari‑cari dia. Saya tanya bapanya tetapi dia juga tak tahu,” before she and her son‑in‑law went to the river and found the child’s slipper on the bank.

The incident was first reported by Sinar Harian, which stated that the girl, Puteri Nur Afiyah Qalesya Mustafa, died from drowning after being thrown into the river by her uncle. The report also mentioned that the victim’s father, a 40‑year‑old who runs a food stall in Muar, had travelled with his daughter to Tanjung Sedili to collect medication before the tragedy occurred.

Police investigations continue, with authorities confirming the suspect remains in custody pending further inquiry.