SK Tohoi tragedy: Suspend or charge with negligence those involved, Kit Siang says

Search and rescue team discovered the skeletal remains of two children on Wednesday and Thursday.

In a statement, Kit Siang said he has assigned DAP National Vice Chairman Teresa Kok and DAP Parliamentary Spokesman for Education, Zairil Khir Johari to highlight the case in Parliament when it reconvenes on Oct. 19.

He said this is to ensure that such a tragedy can never happen again to school children in Malaysia, whether Orang Asli kids or otherwise, in the country.

He said Malaysians must hold their heads in shame at the shocking case of the seven Orang Asli children in Gua Musang who had gone missing from their school hostel near SK Tohoi since August 23.

“Malaysians must feel heart-sick that such callousness, inhumanity, negligence and gross incompetence can happen in modern-day Malaysia as to cause a human disaster and tragedy of such unbelievable magnitude,” he said in the statement.

Kit Siang also took to task the Education Ministry which said will set up a special committee to look into various aspects involving Orang Asli children who stayed in its hostels.

He said the response was 'grossly inadequate and even laughable'.

"In the past seven weeks that the seven Orang Asli kids were missing, how many times did the Cabinet discuss the case – in fact, did the Cabinet ever discussed the case at all," he questioned.

Kit Siang also commended Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for taking the effort to visit the families of the missing children on September 28 but questioned why other ministers, especially those who are directly concerned with the case, did not do so.

He singled out Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yakob whose portfolio includes the Orang Asli Affairs Department and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohaini Abdul Karim and questioned what had they personally done for the rescue of the children.

Kit Siang also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to demand explanation from the ministers on what they have done to save the children.

“And if they failed to provide a satisfactory accounts which should be made available to the public, they should face the music,” he said.

On August 23, seven Orang Asli students from SK Pos Tohoi were reported missing after failing to return to their hostel for fear of being punished for bathing in a nearby river without permission.