Batang Kali landslide: Prayers pour in on social media for last victim to be found

The Star:

Batang Kali landslide: Prayers pour in on social media for last victim to be found




Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel together with K-9 search dogs during the operations at the Father's Organic Farm in Batang Kali landslide. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star


PETALING JAYA: Social media users have been pouring their well-wishes and prayers for the only victim of the Batang Kali landslide to be found soon.

The victim was an 11-year-old boy, the son of the SJKC Mun Choong canteen operator.


This followed the total number of victims that had been revised from 94 to 92.

According to Sin Chew Daily, Facebook users had been leaving comments showing their well-wishes and prayers, including heart wrenching calls for the boy to "show up" soon.


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Among the messages read, "Little boy, let's not hide anymore. Follow the light, don't be afraid!", "Let them find you soon; your family is waiting for you.", "Go home, son. It’s dark out there and let’s not stay out too long.", "Be good, little boy. Show up, and let's go home."


Rescue personnel found four victims on Thursday (Dec 22) – a man, a woman and two children (a boy and a girl).

Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed said authorities had confirmed the number of victims was 92 after checking the farm registration list and police reports lodged over missing family members.

"There was an overlap of registration at the farm, which is why we had the initial number of victims at 94.

"We discovered the error a few days ago but did extensive checks to ensure the number was right. We are now satisfied that the official number of victims is 92," he said.

Comm Arjunaidi added that the search and rescue (SAR) operation had been temporarily stopped due to a heavy downpour. It resumed Friday morning (Dec 23) at 8am.

The school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) chairman U Chin Ong reportedly told Harian Metro that the school plans to hold a memorial service for the victims when all had been accounted for.

Among all the victims who were found dead, U said six were teachers and canteen workers from the school, while the rest were their friends.

"Those in the group have been accounted for except an 11-year-old boy. We are planning to hold a memorial service for the victims.

"But we will wait for some families to complete conducting the funerals and for all the victims to be found first," he said.

U noted that the ceremony would include the canteen workers and teachers as they are part of the school.