Missing Orang Asli children could have feared punishment

GUA MUSANG: Seven Orang Asli pupils aged below 12-years with youngest seven-year-old girl are said to have fled into the jungle because they feared punishment for swimming in a river.

The minors of SK Tohoi about 60km from here comprising seven girls and a boy was said to have gone into the Pos Tohoi jungle at around 2am on Sunday.

They were identified as Mirsudiar Aluj, 11, Norieen Yaakob, 10, Ika Ayel, 9, Sasa

Sobrie, 8, Haikal Yaakob, 8, Linda Rosli, 8, and Juvina David, 7.

It was understood that the pupils lives at Kampung Penad, Pos Simpor and Kampung Gawen, Pos Gob here.

District police chief Superintendant Saiful Bahri Abdullah said he received the report on the incident at 2.25am on Tuesday.

Supt Saiful Bahri added that a search had been mounted with the help of villagers and the Orang Asli Development Department on Wednesday morning and had yet to find any clues of the whereabouts of the pupils.

"This case is still under investigation and the search will continue until they are found," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Orang Asli Youth Network chairman Dendi Johari claimed that the school only informed the pupils parents of the disappearance on Tuesday.

"A total of 180 residents from Kampung Pos Simpor, Kampung Kampung Dendut, and Kampung Pos Tohoi are searching for the pupils in the jungle and rivers.

"We are worried that the pupils are starving or may be devoured by wild animals and lately residents spotted an elephant in the vicinity and are worried about their safety," he said.