The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) denied claims that the majority of Orang Asli students at 11 primary schools in Kelantan were traumatised to attend school following the incident of seven pupils who went missing August last year.

Its Director-General Datuk Hasnan Hassan said the claims were untrue as a majority of the schools involved recorded an attendance percentage of more than 85 percent.

"Only the attendance at SK Tohoi was unsatisfactory as only 55 percent of the students attended class after the second week of schooling," said Hasnan.

He added that the low number of students attending school is normal for SK Tohoi during the early sessions.

"These is because most of the students stay at villages situated between 45km and 65km from school," Hasnan told reporters after visiting the school on Sunday.

Among the Orang Asli schools in Kelantan are SK Bihai, SK Pasir Linggi, SK Kuala Lah, SK Hendrop, SK Pos Brooke, SK Balar, SK Kuala Betis, SK Sri Permai, SK Pulat and SK Sungai Rual, Jeli.

On Aug 23 last year, seven SK Tohoi pupils in Gua Musang fled from their hostel as they feared being punished after they went for a bath at a nearby river without prior permission.

READ: Pos Tohoi tragedy: Fear of punishment believed to have triggered chain of events

After being lost for nearly 50 days in the jungle, the bodies of four of the children were found. Another child, Sasa Sobrie, eight, is still missing.

PHOTO GALLERY: The search and rescue of SK Tohoi Orang Asli pupils

Miksudiar and Norieen were found famished and dehydrated on a river bank in the deep jungles of Tohoi.