Waytha Moorthy: Eight of 12 Bateq graves found so far

GUA MUSANG: Search and recovery operations here have found eight out of the 12 Bateq graves in the Kuala Koh settlement.

National Unity and Social Well-being Minister P. Waytha Moorthy said the operation, conducted with the help of the Bateq people, would continue until all 12 graves are located.

"It is a complex operation as the search team has to go deep into the forest and some of the areas can only be accessed by boat," he said.

The remains have yet to be retrieved for further investigation.

Waytha Moorthy added that extracting the remains would take some time to ensure it is done properly.

"We will be able to locate the rest of the graves in a few days," he said, adding that 15 people are now recuperating from the yet-to-be-identified illness at a nearby rest house after receiving treatment at hospital.

Earlier in Kota Baru, Waytha Moorthy visited a three-year-old Bateq boy who was admitted into the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II for suspected pneumonia.

"He is expected to recover and will soon be placed with close family members," he said.

The boy's father was also treated for the same suspected illness.