Missing supervisor transferred recently

GEORGE TOWN: Site supervisor Yuan Kuok Wern (pic), who is among those missing, was transferred to the construction site just two weeks ago.

His supervisor, who wanted to be known only as Thoe, said that Yuan, 27, had been a good team player since joining the construction project’s building contractor, Choong Construc­tion.

“Several of our workers were at the site in the morning, but he was the only one at the affected area when the landslide occurred.

“I am still hoping for a miracle to happen,” Thoe said.

In his school days, Yuan was active in badminton, winning the Yonex Penang School’s singles badminton championship in the boys’ under-15 category at the Badminton International Penang hall in Bukit Dumbar.

Members of Yuen’s family also rushed to the scene after hearing the news.

“We can’t do much except to wait,” said a female relative.

In his last Instagram post on Oct 6, Yuan uploaded a photo of the construction site, supposedly to show his new workplace.

Waiter Muhd Firdaus Abdullah, 18, said he was worried about the fate of his Pakistani stepfather Ali Raza, 26.

“He is a caring person who would always give me words of encouragement and financial support.

“I hope that he will be fine,” he said.

Members of the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi also came to the site to offer words of encouragement and food to the victims’ families and those involved in the search and rescue efforts.

In Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak expressed his grief over the landslide.

“Hopefully, the search and rescue mission runs smoothly, let us pray together,” Najib said on his official Twitter account.