Batang Kali landslide: Rescuers refuse to take blood pressure readings for fear of being pulled out of SAR efforts, says Uncle Kentang

The Star:

Batang Kali landslide: Rescuers refuse to take blood pressure readings for fear of being pulled out of SAR efforts, says Uncle Kentang





PETALING JAYA: Firefighters working on the search and rescue operations at the Batang Kali landslide site have refused to take their blood pressure readings for fear that they would be asked to stand down.

Social activist Kuan Chee Heng (pic), who revealed this, said that firefighters needed to have their blood pressure measured by the health officers on-site to ensure they were fit for search and rescue (SAR) operations.


However, many refused because they knew that they would be asked to rest instead of continuing on the mission to find the last victim, who was an 11-year-old boy.

"They fear they will be stopped from the operations because of high blood pressure readings.

"Of course it will be high. They don't sleep well. They're extremely tired. But they're still afraid of being advised to rest because of high blood pressure so they avoid taking the blood pressure readings on the field.



"They want to stay and continue to help in the SAR mission. This is their fighting spirit and sacrifice," he wrote in a social media post on Friday (Dec 23).

Kuan, who is also known by his moniker Uncle Kentang, had been on the field daily to deliver various forms of aid since the landslide incident hit last Friday (Dec 16).

Kuan said that the firefighters insisted on continuing the operations as they understood the feelings of the victims' families and had the highest humanity values.

"Blood pressure readings must be high for all of them on the field. But their spirit is higher. They are willing to sacrifice," he said.

Kuan said this was the spirit of all rescuers on the field including the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance (SMART), the Civil Defence Force (APM), the police and the military.

"They are indeed the heroes of our country," he said.

The SAR for the last victim resumed at 8am on Friday (Dec 23) at the landslide site Father's Organic Farm.

The search was for an 11-year-old boy, who still remained unaccounted for.

The landslide tragedy that struck at 2.42am last Friday (Dec 16) has claimed 30 lives, while 61 people were rescued.

The total number of victims involved in the incident stand at 92 people.