Students not sent by university — Lee
MIRI: The five students of Curtin University Sarawak who were struck by tragedy at Loagan Bunut National Park ( NP) on Sunday were out on their own and not sent by the university.
“I have checked with the university’s pro vice- chancellor ( Prof Jim Mienczakowski) this morning( yesterday)— they (students) were there on their own, and the university did not instruct them to go there,” Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin told reporters at a press conference here yesterday.
Lee, who is also Curtin Sarawak Management Board chairman, received a report from Loagan Bunut NP that on Dec 11, five Curtin Sarawak students arrived at the park.
He said according to the report, after registration at 3.30pm, they wanted to visit and spend the night at the ‘selambau’ operated by a local named Jalin, and left using Jalin’s boat at 4pm.
The ‘selambau’ is a floating hut used by the Berawans as a traditional fishing method, equipped with its own kitchen, place to sleep and a small living room.
“There are less than 25 selambaus scattered across Loagan Bunut NP. It is one of the famous products of Loagan Bunut and most visitors would never want to miss it.
“The students did not stay at the NP. At 9.25pm, the students rang Jalin and requested for night boating around the lake.
“The weather was reported to be fine with some drizzling at the time. They boarded the boat around 10.15pm after the rain stopped.
“It started to rain again at 11pm and the boat driver asked everyone to return to the base but suddenly, a large wave hit them and the boat capsized. The water level at that time was reported to be eight feet deep,” Lee said.
Four students, assisted by Jalin, managed to swim to safety and they were rescued by a passing boat at 6.20am the next day and immediately brought to the NP office.
I have checked with the university’s pro vicechancellor (Prof Jim Mienczakowski) this morning (yesterday)— they (students) were there on their own, and the university did not instruct them to go there. Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister for Tourism
“At 7am, one student was sent for treatment to Long Lama Hospital for burn on his body as some of them were holding on to a fuel tank when the boat sank. Seven of Miri Fire and Rescue Department divers arrived at the park at 11.55am while at 11.58am, one NP boat and three local community boats steered out to do their own search and rescue (SAR) operation,” he added.
At 12.45pm on Dec 12, the SAR team found the body of Amate Mohamed Amate, 26, while the body of 23-year- old Emine Imoh Daniel Udoh was found on the same day at 5.15pm.
Amate’s body arrived at Miri Hospital mortuary at 5.22pm, while Emine’s remains were flown in by a helicopter from Miri Fire and Rescue Department’s Air Unit.
“I commend the effort done by the SAR teams and would like to request our NP management to review all the operational procedures in the park, especially on safety measures.
“All local operators must be briefed and they must make it mandatory for those using the boat to put their life jackets on and all boats must be equipped with all the necessary safety measures before starting any journey.
“This must be emphasised to the local operators,” said Lee, who has contacted the director of Forest Department and requested for a full investigation on the incident.