Rural folk still in grief, shock over Mulu school fire tragedy
MIRI: The fire tragedy that struck a primary school in Batu Bungan on Wednesday and killed a teacher there, is regarded as a ‘ black day’ for the education fraternity in rural Sarawak, says Parti Keadilan Rakyat ( PKR) Baram branch secretaryDennis Along.
Catherine Janet Tiwi, a 25 year- old Bidayuh from Bau, lost her life in her attempt to rescue two fellow teachers out of the hostel at SK Batu Bungan in the wee hours on July 25.
It is said that the three teachers were accompanying the pupils attending a five- day Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah ( UPSR) motivation camp.
One of the two teachers who survived suffered 22 per cent burns and was rushed to Miri Hospital via medical emergency evacuation ( Medivac) helicopter, while the other suffered minor injuries on her foot and received treatment at a clinic in Mulu.
“As a local from Long Terawan, where she ( Catherine) taught at SK Penghulu Baya Mallang, I was utterly shocked upon hearing the news – the pain in my heart gets unbearable every time I think of the tragedy,” said Dennis.
Long Terawan is a village downstream Batu Bungan, where
As a local from Long Terawan, where she (Catherine) taught at SK Penghulu Baya Mallang, I was utterly shocked upon hearing the news – the pain in my heart gets unbearable every time I think of the tragedy. Dennis Along, PKR Baram branch secretary
a Penan longhouse and SK Batu Bungan are located.
The local communities of Berawans and Penans yesterday offered their condolences to the family of the late Catherine.
In view of the tragedy, Dennis called upon the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to establish the cause and consequently, take preventive actions.
“There have been too many fire incidents in Batu Bungan, including three that have struck the Penan longhouse since 2008,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Education Teo Nie Ching hailed Catherine as a dedicated teacher.
“It is just so sad,” she told reporters.
Teo arrived here early Thursday and visited one the survivors at Miri Hospital.
She later handed over RM2,000 to the survivor’s family before flying to Mulu to visit the other victim and also go to the fire site.
After that, she returned to Kuching to attend the wake at Catherine’s family house in Bau.
It is learnt that Catherine’s remains were brought home on Thursday afternoon.