PETALING JAYA – A group of children told Zahari Mohd Reba that his grandson, six-year-old Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, ran to the third floor of Block R where he resided, and “disappeared” during the initial search for the missing boy.
Zahari, 55, told the press, who were camped out at Damansara Damai’s Idaman Apartments, that he rushed to the residential area when he first heard that Zayn Rayyan was nowhere to be found.
Zayn Rayyan and his parents had been staying on the second floor of Block R.
“When I joined the search, some of the neighbourhood kids helped me. They told me that they saw a kid run around near Block R. I showed them a picture of Zayn, and they said ‘Yes! It’s him!’
“The kids told me he ran to the third floor, and disappeared,” said Zahari.
In recalling some of the events, he said he was having lunch with Zayn Rayyan’s father Zaim Ikhwan (on Tuesday, December 5), when Zayn Rayyan’s mother Ismanira Abdul Manaf called to say the boy went missing.
Zahari added that his grandson, who was autistic, was never left alone to roam around the apartment area, and would not part from his mother, especially during his daily school routine and going to the playground.
When he heard that Zayn Rayyan’s body was found, he ran towards the riverbank and insisted that the police let him in the cordoned area.
“I ran to the site. I told the police to let me in. I told them, ‘I’m his grandfather, so let me in’. Once I got near, I saw my grandson lying there on his side.
“By then my son had collapsed upon hearing the news. I went to him to try to calm him down.”
Zahari, who is a production manager, also recalled that Zaim told him that Zayn Rayyan had behavioural changes three months prior to his death.
“I last met my grandson on Saturday, in my house at Subang Bestari.
“My son told me that day (last Saturday) that Zayn had become a bit aggressive in the last three months.
“(Moreover), my son had just moved here (to Idaman Apartments) three years ago. I don’t think there was anyone who would resent my son (and his family).”
He added that he has full confidence and trust in the police to find the perpetrator while urging the public to not speculate.
Also seen at Block R today were Zayn’s parents as well as their other son and family.
The Selangor and Bukit Aman Forensic Units arrived at the scene at 12pm today.
Earlier, the police deployed its K9 Unit for door to door inspections at the 18-block Idaman Apartments complex, which houses a total of 2,484 units.
The two K9 dogs, Gucci and Ricks, started making their rounds with their handlers as early as 10.30am today.
This comes after police did a surprise DNA sample collection from all the residents last night.
So far, the police have taken statements from more than 20 individuals and repeatedly questioned Zayn Rayyan’s parents, babysitter and the resident who found the boy’s body.
After Zayn Rayyan’s body was found on Wednesday night (December 6), police reclassified his death to murder on the day after.
The police are also searching for clues using drones to capture aerial images of the area, tracker dogs, as well as appealing to apartment residents to share their dashcam footage. – December 10, 2023