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Where’s report on Batang Kali landslide, ask victims’ kin

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The families say they’re not trying to find fault with anyone, but just want some accountability over the incident.

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Free Malaysia Today
Loh Teng Shui (seated, right) and other family members of the Batang Kali landslide victims with placards urging the government to provide answers.

KUALA LUMPUR:
The families of victims of the Batang Kali landslide have urged the government to release the full report on the tragedy as soon as possible.

Loh Teng Shui, who was speaking on behalf of the families, said they were still waiting to get answers as to what really happened.

“We don’t know which department to go to and which authorities to reach out to (for more information).

“We hope that the government can provide us with proper channels to get information rather than us barking up the wrong tree,” he said at a press conference.

On Jan 19, natural resources, environment and climate change minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the full report on the incident was expected to be completed by the end of last month. However, no report has been made public so far.

It was previously reported that a preliminary report had been presented to the Cabinet on Jan 4.

In December, the police said that their investigation into the landslide was almost 90% complete. However, there have been no updates as well.

“With regard to the police investigation, we have not heard anything about it. What happened to the investigation? Is it together with the report?

“These are the things we want to find out as we do not have an avenue to seek any information. We can only read news reports and end up being frustrated about it,” Loh said.

He added that the victims’ family members were not trying to find fault with anyone as all they wanted was some accountability.

“We also found out that the campsite may have been inside a ‘no-go area’. If so, we shouldn’t have been there (in the first place).

“This (incident) could have been avoided. We want clarification from the report.”

Meanwhile, Loh said some vehicles, which were not damaged by the landslide, were completely totalled after they were towed away.

Besides the vehicles, personal belongings have also gone missing, Loh said.

“This adds salt to our wounds. There should have been proper SOPs on how to handle our vehicles during a disaster.

“One tow company even charged a family member RM1,450. This is a high amount and we don’t think it’s fair as all family members have already gone through so much,” he said.

The early morning incident on Dec 16 claimed the lives of 31 people, including 13 children. Another 61 people who were trapped in the landslide were pulled out safely during the search and rescue operations at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite.

Preliminary findings by the works ministry showed that tension cracks that stretched along the road running above the hill slope and the accumulation of underground water beneath the campsite had likely caused the landslide.

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