Re: Why MOE ?
10 from SG died in Mr Kinabalu – MOE under fire
Protected June 7th, 2015 | Author: Editorial
The Malaysian authorities announced today (7 Jun) the full list of 19 people who died from the quake which hit Sabah at Mount Kinabalu area on Friday (5 Jun) [Link]. The 19 included the 2 who were found on Friday:
Singapore Group from Tanjong Katong Primary School:
Rachel Ho Yann Shilin, 12, (F)
Sonia Jhala, 12, (F)
Emilie Giovanna Ramu, 12, (F)
Ameer Ryyan bin Mohd Aded, 12, (M)
Navdeep Singh Jayral s/o Raj Kumar, 13, (M)
Karyl Mitzi Higuit Matahom, 12, (F) – (Filipino student studied at TKPS)
Wee Ying Ping Peony, 12 (F) – (Body recovered Friday)
Mohammad Ghazi b Mohamed, 35, (M) – (Teacher)
Loo Jian Liang Terrence, 29, (M) – (Teacher)
Muhammad Daanish b Amran, 22, (M) – (Guide from SG)
Malaysia:
Lim Choon Seong, 45 (M)
Muhammad Logman bin Abd Karim, 22 (M)
Mohd Khairuladzuan bin Abd, 39 (M)
Valerian Joannes - Mt Torq staff , (M)
Ricky Masarin – Mt Torq staff, (M)
Joseph Solugin –Mt guide, (M)
Robbie Sapinggi, 30 (M) – Mt trainer (body recovered on Friday)
Others:
Ozaki Masahiro, 29, (M) – Japan
Lugi, 35, (M) – China
The first bodies of mountain trainer Robbie Sapinggi and 12-year-old Singapore student
Wee Ying Ping Peony were found and taken down to the base camp at Sabah Parks on Friday evening.
Among those killed were 10 Singapore students, teachers and guide from Tanjong Katong Primary School. The school, with the endorsement from MOE, has organised a “leadership trekking trip” to Mount Kinabalu during the June school holidays.
The group consisted of 29 students and 8 teachers from the school. Those who survived the mountain climbing trip have mostly returned back safely to Singapore.
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat wrote on his Facebook page yesterday (6 Jun):
“This is also a difficult time for our officers, on the frontline in KK, in TKPS and MOE HQ. Officers are giving their all and feel the pain personally. I really appreciate the officers’ dedication. I also appreciate Singaporeans standing together with us through this – your support means more to the families and our officers than you may know.”
Criticism leveled at school and authorities
Mt Kinabalu in Sabah (4,095 m or 13,435 ft high)
In fact, the parents of Peony Wee, one of the unfortunate students, did not want their daughter to go climb Mt Kinabalu initially, as they felt the climb was not easy. But Peony kept begging them.
The father, who has climbed the mountain before, told the media, “I know that the climb isn’t easy and I never wanted her to go. Her exams were also coming up in two months and I didn’t think she should be going overseas now.”
He later changed his mind because he had not allowed Peony to go on a school trip to Taiwan a few years back, and he didn’t want to disappoint her this time. He paid $600 for her school trip to Mt Kinabalu.
“When children get excited, they don’t pay any heed to danger. And now she is gone,” Mr Wee said sadly. He added that he regretted allowing his daughter to go to Mt Kinabalu.
Online, netizens are beginning to question the wisdom of the school and authorities for allowing primary school kids to climb Mt Kinabalu, said to be 4095m high.
P6 pupil Ronan Lim, one of the survivors, fell and sprained his ankle in the rush and a Malaysian guide carried him the rest of the way down the mountain. (ST Photo)
P6 pupil Ronan Lim, one of the survivors, fell and sprained his ankle in the rush and a Malaysian guide carried him the rest of the way down the mountain. (ST Photo)
On MOE Facebook page:
Alice Malt: Please ban all primary schools from conducting very risky excursions such as mountain climbing. Primary school kids are not physically and mentally ready for such risky activities.
Richard Tay: Such tough and taxing trip is not meant even for lower secondary schools … Definitely not for primary schools. Nature of such trip needs lots of trainings even for higher secondary students, period.
Christine Tan: cant understand y send 12 yrs old??
Another netizen, Andrew Teo, also posted his views on MOE Facebook page and sent a copy to TRE for fear that MOE would delete his post. He wrote (‘Why did MOE allow children to climb Mt Kinabalu?‘):
“My heart goes out to the unnamed 12-year-old girl from Tanjong Katong Primary School who died in the Sabah quake during the school’s trip there.
I am saddened and at the same time furious that the school organized such a dangerous trip and MOE is allowing this kind of expedition.
How can little children at this age be allowed to climb such a peak? Will the school management and MOE please explain? The public deserves the right to know what is going on and assurance that this sort of things will not happen again.”
Mr Teo, still feeling very angry about the whole episode, later wrote to TRE:
“I want to demand that the school Principal and anyone who coined the idea of the expedition to resign. I also think that the MOE Minister should step down. If Mr. Wong Kan Seng can step down because MSK escaped from prison and no one died, why shouldn’t we demand that Heng Swee Kiat step down?”
What do you think?
* TRE would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family members of those who perished in the recent Sabah quake.
