By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 8: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen called on authorities to adopt a proactive and responsible approach in handling the recent drowning incident involving two young Sarawakian trainee teachers, emphasising that the investigation results must be made public, transparent, and accompanied by a clear explanation to society and the bereaved families.
“The loss of two young lives must not be in vain,” he said in a post shared on his social media after paying his last respects to the late Christopher Ling Jia Siang at Chan Funeral Parlor in 5th Mile here last night (April 7).
Accompanied by his special assistants Michael Kong and Soo Tien Ren, Chong extended his deepest condolences to Christopher’s family, describing the atmosphere at the wake as “heavy with grief and deeply heartbreaking.”
“I am profoundly saddened by this incident. Christopher was young, promising, and had a bright future ahead, yet his life was tragically cut short. This is not only a tremendous loss to his family but also to the nation’s education sector,” he said.
Chong, who is also Stampin MP, urged the Ministry of Education (MOE) to disclose the truth surrounding the capsized kayaking incident promptly, while ensuring that the investigation process remains transparent and fair.
“The Ministry has stated that a comprehensive investigation is underway and that personnel involved have been temporarily reassigned to avoid affecting the process. This is a necessary first step, but more importantly, the investigation must truly be open, and the truth must be explained to the public as soon as possible,” he added.
He also called for a review of planning and safety standards for similar outdoor activities, particularly those involving students, to prevent future tragedies.
“The highest safety standards must be upheld to prevent such tragedies from happening again and endangering students’ lives,” he said.
He stressed that his team would remain in close contact with the families, offering any support necessary during this difficult time.
The bodies of late trainee teachers Christopher Ling, 21, and Joey Ling, 20, were brought home for final rites yesterday (April 7). Christopher arrived at Kuching International Airport at 4.25pm, while Joey landed in Sibu around 6.30pm, each greeted by tearful family members, friends, and educators in an atmosphere of profound grief and reflection.
The two Sarawakian students were trainee teachers at Teachers Education Institute (IPG) Malaysia Perlis Campus who tragically drowned during an off-campus education programme at Pantai Merdeka near Sungai Petani, Kedah, on Saturday (April 4). They were reported missing around 6pm and found at 7.30pm, still wearing life jackets.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the kayak capsized due to rough sea conditions, with the victims later discovered entangled in a local fisherman’s net. — DayakDaily
