Sombre affair at SJKC Mun Choong in memory of Batang Kali landslide victims

KUALA LUMPUR: A sombre atmosphere filled the air at SJKC Mun Choong as families, friends, teachers and pupils gathered for a memorial service to honour the victims of the Batang Kali landslide.

Some parents were seen arriving at the school hall with their children an hour early for the memorial which was scheduled at 9am Friday (Dec 30), with teachers present to greet them.

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Messages of condolences and well wishes on cards were hung on a wishing tree placed at a school hall.

Before the memorial began, a minute of silence was observed in remembrance of the 11 victims associated to the school.

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Among those who perished were six teachers, three students, a canteen operator and his employee.

Headmaster Cheong Kam Yin said she hoped all the family members will come out from this sadness.

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“We will always remember all of you," she said.

There was not a single dry eye in the hall when a video paying tribute to the victims was shown.

The landslide tragedy, which occurred at the Father's Organic Farm campsite in Gohtong Jaya, Batang Kali, at 2.42am on Dec 16, had claimed 31 lives. Another 61 survived the ordeal.