KUALA LUMPUR: Three days before Cheong Kam Yin was to start her stint as the headmistress of SJK(C) Mun Choong here, her world was thrown into turmoil when she received a call from the Education Ministry informing her of the tragic landslide at a campsite in Batang Kali, Selangor.
A good number of the school’s staff and pupils were among the campers.
“Everything happened so suddenly and unexpectedly… after that I attended a few funerals. It’s hard to describe my feelings.
“I just hope all the family members can overcome this sadness. We will always remember all of you,” said Cheong who officially assumed her post on Dec 19.
She was speaking at a memorial service for those who perished in the disaster on Dec 16, which took 11 lives – six teachers, three pupils, the canteen operator and his assistant – linked to the school.
They were part of a group of 26 from the primary school comprising teachers, pupils and others, together with their families and friends, who were on a private camping trip at the Father’s Organic Farm in Batang Kali during the current school holidays.
In all, the tragedy claimed 31 lives, 13 of them children.
At the service organised by the school yesterday, Cheong also announced that RM800,000 had been collected for the victims’ families and the school would set up a working committee to disburse the funds in aid of the families.
SJK(C) Mun Choong’s Parent-Teacher Association head U Chin Ong said more than 1,200 people attended the event that started at 9am at the school’s assembly hall.
“Those who came were family members, classmates, colleagues and friends of the victims,” he said.
Before the service began, a minute of silence was observed in remembrance of the 11.
Sadness and grief filled the air during the ceremony, where heartfelt performances were held and videos played.
Kuala Lumpur Education Department’s deputy director (Learning Sector) Abdul Aziz Md Hashim, who was present, announced that six new teachers would be posted to the school to replace the deceased.
He said they were fresh graduates who would report for duty when the third term begins on Jan 3.
He also said the Education Ministry would provide counselling to those affected by the tragedy.
“For now, the school needs to restore confidence, even if it is in mourning; it has to move on,” Abdul Aziz told the media.
In her speech, the school’s senior assistant, Ng Siew Foon, recalled that after the incident, she kept being inundated with requests for the latest updates from other teachers and the media.
“But I myself had no idea of the latest news.
“Every level of the school had lost teachers and students… it was the hardest moment for me to tell everyone about the news. What would you do in my position?” she said, adding that she was even anxious when she had to face the media at the Forensics Department of Hospital Sungai Buloh.
Ng now urged for a shift of attention from the school to allow everyone to move forward.
“Let this memorial service be the finale to the tragedy,” she said solemnly.
At the end of the event, teachers, students and parents were asked to write messages for the departed on a small card before tying it with a yellow balloon.
Then all of them gathered at the school field and released the balloons together.