Last 4 capsize survivors return to China
The four remaining Chinese tourists and a family member who did not board the ill-fated catamaran to Pulau Mengalum on January 28 returned home to China yesterday with hearts filled with sorrow as the father is s ll missing.
KOTA KINABALU: The last four remaining Chinese tourists and a family member who did not board the ill-fated catamaran to Pulau Mengalum on January 28 returned home to China yesterday with hearts filled with sorrow as the father has remained missing in the boat tragedy.
The family of six came to Kota Kinabalu for a vacation, with five travelling on the ill-fated catamaran. Four of them were rescued after the boat capsized but the father remains missing.
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Chen Peijie and Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming saw the tourists off at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) yesterday morning.
Later in an interview, Chen said that all 20 Chinese tourists who survived the incident had returned to their home country, including the last four China nationals.
“Today was the second time I felt relieved since the incident happened. The first was seeing the return of the 20 tourists to the marine police jetty upon being rescued. The 20 China tourists are now in good shape and have returned home safely,” she said.
Nonetheless, Chen said she still felt heavyhearted over the incident that happened on the first day of Chinese New Year as the tragedy could have been avoided.
She said the China tourists not only suffered physical injuries, but emotional trauma as well.
“Many China and local media agencies are very concerned about the 20 surviving Chinese tourists and wish to interview them on their experience.
“I did ask the survivors (on the media interviews). But they are suffering not only physical wounds, but also deep emotional trauma,” she said.
Chen remarked that the media had been very cooperative and given the victims privacy to recuperate in the hospital.
“The last batch of tourists departed today. They wish to convey their gratitude to the leaders in China and Malaysia, and the personnel working at the front line. They are very touched,” she said.
Chen also expressed her apologies to the local media as the survivors were not ready to face the press yet.
“I had said that we could perhaps arrange an interview session for the local media when the Chinese tourists have recovered to a certain level.
“However, the tourists still need space to heal. So I apologize for not being able to arrange the interview for the local media. I hope the media will understand,” she said.
Following the Mengalum boat tragedy, Chen urged Chinese tourists to only engage credible tour operators.
She said the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) has a list of credible tour operators on its website, which is also available in Mandarin.
Additionally, Chen said China nationals could visit the consulate general’s official website for the necessary information such as travel advisory prior to coming to Sabah.
Tourists should also purchase travel insurance and ensure sufficient life jackets on board, she said.
On another note, Chen said the Sabah government had made great efforts in the search and rescue operation for the capsize victims.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, she said the Chinese consulate in Kota Kinabalu would follow up on two aspects, namely the investigation on the incident and a justified solution for the victims.
“We hope that the relevant government agency will carry out a thorough investigation and let it be known to the consulate and victims’ families the reason the incident happened,” she said.
Chen reiterated that the government should also penalize those who were responsible.
She also looked forward to seeing a justified solution, including some form of compensation, for the boat victims – four of whom have perished, four are still missing and 20 were injured.
“I believe and I do feel that Sabahans are very friendly and kind. The state government has also spent great efforts in undertaking the relevant work.
“I look forward to seeing a satisfactory outcome so that the deceased victims can rest in peace while the survivors would receive some form of relief,” she said.
Earlier, Chen said the consulate general here and the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry have immediately responded to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Le Keqiang’s demands by activating the emergency response mechanism at the consulate and Chinese Embassy in Malaysia when news of the Mengalum boat tragedy broke out.
She said China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry had dispatched a working group, the Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Huang Huikang had personally flew in to supervise the search and rescue operation in Kota Kinabalu, China National Tourism Administration assigned a person-incharge from Singapore to the state capital while the Consulate General of China in Kuching had also sent backups.
For that, Chen thanked the working team for their hard work in carrying out the instructions from the Chinese leaders.
She also thanked China-based enterprises and friends from the Chinese community for providing care and assistance to the survivors.