KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 — Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek confirmed that teachers and pupils from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Mun Choong were involved in the landslide incident in Batang Kali, Selangor, early today.
However, she said the group trip to the location was not organised by the school and was, instead, a private visit.
“It may have been on a family trip or among friends, we are not sure yet. We are still trying to get the actual facts regarding their trip there,” she told reporters when surveying the situation at the Sungai Buloh Hospital Forensic Department, near here, today.
The bodies of the landslide incident were taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for autopsy.
Fadhlina said the Ministry of Education (MoE) was also trying to determine if there are other school pupils who are also victims of the incident.She added that the ministry was ready to provide financial assistance and psychosocial service to teachers and pupils as well as the next-of-kin involved in the incident.
She also urged the next of kin of those who died in the landslide to be given space so that they can patiently go through the process of identifying the bodies.
“I wish to express my grief and condolences to the next of kin of the victims. Hopefully, this process can be expedited and simplified for everyone involved,” she said.
The 2.42 am incident, which involved a landslide measuring 300 metres long and 70 metres high, resulted in 21 fatalities as of 7.10 pm.
Twelve more victims are still reported missing while 61 were saved.
