Family at mortuary, but bodies not their next of kin

SUNGAI BULOH: Relatives of a missing family in the Batang Kali landslide were at the Sungai Buloh Hospital mortuary on Sunday (Dec 18), only to find the remaining unclaimed bodies were not of their next of kin.

Former Batu MP Tian Chua said that relatives from Machap, Melaka had requested his assistance in the identification of their missing next of kin who perished in the landslide.

Also present at the mortuary was former Machap assemblywoman Ginie Lim.

Tian said, sadly, the relatives had come to the mortuary but found that none of the three bodies that have yet to be claimed were related to them.

"The process is that the hospital would do a DNA test before allowing the family members to identify the bodies. However, after two bodies underwent DNA tests, the waiting relatives from Melaka realised that they were not related.

"They are now planning to go to the landslide site in Batang Kali to conduct some rituals in the hope that their missing next of kin would be found soon," said Tian.

He also stated that he extended his condolences to the victims of the landslide.

"I believe I might know some of the teachers from the group from SJKC Mun Choong as the school is located in Batu," said the former Batu MP, at the mortuary.

Another nine victims were still missing in the landslide tragedy. The fatal landslide had so far claimed 24 lives.

Sixty one survived the disaster.