Gone but not forgotten

Fond memories: Tong showing Kai En’s workbook at his home in Taman Dato Senu, Sentul

KUALA LUMPUR: It has been almost a fortnight since that fateful day at Batang Kali, and Tong Chee Kong still finds himself tearing up whenever he thinks about his wife and their young son.

Often re-reading the messages and listening to the voice notes sent by his wife Lai Lee Koon, 44, Tong said it felt surreal when he was first informed of the landslide.

“I remember saying to my mother-in-law that my wife and kid could not have been involved,” he said when met at his home at Taman Dato Senu in Sentul here yesterday.

Tong, who did not join the camping trip, said he had been sending his wife numerous messages that morning but did not get any reply.

“We were still in touch the night before, and I told her I would buy durian for her and Kai En (their son) when they got home.

“Her last message to me was to remind me to have a good rest. I never thought it would be our last conversation,” he said.

After getting no reply from his wife the entire afternoon, Tong, who runs a Chinese medicine hall in Kuchai Lama, decided to go to Hospital Sungai Buloh to get updates.

“My wife and son’s remains were found on the first day of the search and rescue operation,” he said.

Recalling the family’s happier times, Tong said they had a short family trip to Kuala Selangor earlier this month, just days before the camping trip.

“It was not easy for my wife and me to have Kai En. We tried for eight years, and we were blessed with one child. But now, I am all that I am left with.

“I miss them so much, but they are gone. I have to accept that,” he added.

For Siti Esah Hassan, there has been less laughter in the house since her eldest daughter Nurul Azwani Kamaruzaman, 31, died in the Batang Kali landslide.

Describing Nurul Azwani as a jovial person, the 53-year-old said despite the heartbreak of losing a daughter, she accepted this as God’s will.

“I miss her, and whenever I hold her clothes, it makes me sad. I still cannot stay too long in her room although I want to,” she said.

Siti Esah said Nurul Azwani, who was a helper at the SJK (C) Mun Choong canteen, was happy working at the school.

“She had been working there for five years. She was close to her boss’ family, who also died in the incident.”

Lai, Kai En and Nurul Azwani were among 31 people who perished in the Batang Kali landslide on Dec 16.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak and Special Affairs) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali presented government contributions to Tong and Siti Esah during a visit to their homes yesterday.

He said that to date, the families of 11 victims had received the contributions announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“We have covered several families in Melaka and Kuala Lumpur. We will visit more families in due time as some of them are still grieving and not ready to accept visitors,” he added.

Armizan also recorded his highest gratitude to all the agencies that were involved in the search and rescue operation, including groups and individuals who are helping throughout the post-disaster care.

On Dec 17, Anwar said that immediate financial aid would be channelled to victims’ families.

He said RM10,000 would be given to families of the deceased, with RM1,000 to be given to survivors.