Family to sue over trainee's death

By Neville Spykerman

2008/05/11

KLANG: The family of National Service trainee Too Hui Min will be suing the government over her death last Wednesday. Hui Min's mother, Chin Kwei Choo, 52, said they were seeking legal action because they did not believe the 18-year-old died of toxic megacolon or infection of the colon.

"We cannot accept the official explanation. We are suing to get the truth."

Chin said based on what she heard from her daughter's fellow trainees, camp authorities were slow in taking Hui Min to hospital.

"My daughter may still be alive if they had acted promptly."

Chin said the compensation of RM40,000 and funeral expenses of RM3,000, to be given to the family by the National Service Training Council, was no consolation.

"She is gone for good. Money cannot bring her back."

Chin and her husband, Too Jong Sing, 55, yesterday sought the assistance of Pandamaran state assemblyman Ronnie Liu at his service centre.

Liu, who will assist the family in getting a lawyer, said he would be referring the matter to Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan who is putting in a notice for an emergency motion to debate the tragedy in Parliament.

Liu said he would also be visiting the Geo Kosmo National Service camp to seek answers on behalf of the family. Hui Min was taken to the Slim River Hospital where she died at 10.45pm on Wednesday.

She had complained of an upset stomach during firearms training at a shooting range in Jugra, in Banting, Selangor.

Hui Min was to have completed the NS programme on June 7.




Deaths of NS Trainees

According to various sources, including the Wikipedia, there were 22 fatalities involving National Service trainees since  its inception in 2004. Among the listed ones are:

2008:


2007:


2005:


2004:

Reader's Comments
(Latest Comments Displayed First)

Cheerfuldragon, London:
Is there a cover up for all these deaths? Why are the authorities not questioned and held responsible for these unnecessary deaths. These young people are being entrusted to the country for their health and safety so surely the country should be liable for all these deaths as it is compulsory for them to do NS and therefore the country is responsible for their deaths and answers and compensations should be available without questions. No wonder some people are so fed up with the government as the recent General Election results show.

Desmond, Penang:
If every year there is someone pass away from the statics because of some incident whether is negligence or not, someone must review the system. Every year there is someone pass away right from 2004 to 2008 then public can foresee there maybe possibility that someone will die in the next year NS training and I can tell you I am very scared to send my children to NS training!

Lim, Shah Alam:
Support for call to 'Stop the National Service Now'. From training, medical, accomodation, management to security and safety, all these must be taken care before NS is allowed to resume. Please debate this publicly.

Tan , Sabah:
Shouldn't any trainees complain of sickness be immediately reported to in house clinic and if serious refer to hospital? But why was this not practised? I was surprised that all trainees should be referred to camp commander first, from there he will decide to refer or not to refer for medication. Is commander well-versed and have good knowledge of medication than doctors? No doubt, he may want to know if trainee is reported sick or just pretending to escape other activities. But from the past incident, are all camp commaders willing to take further risk?

Hamilton Bacon:
For the 22 tragically lost young lives, let's hope they did not die in vain, for nothing.

Sherman, Negeri Sembilan:
After so many deaths for the past 4 years, this programme still failed to wake up the Government to implement more effective approach in handling this issue.

Therefore, as an ex-NS trainee, i feel it is just waste of time and wastage of the Rakyats Money.

K V Soon, Subang Jaya:
Stop the National Service NOW! With claims that ALL ISSUES HAVE BEEN IRONED OUT, this NONSENSE (NS) has yet taken another live! This time it is Too Hui Min, a 7-As SPM student who had a bright future ahead of her. How can entrust the lives of our children to people who do not care, who cry crocodile tears and tell us that everything is ok and fine and whose heart is not really with the children. I do not intend to send my children to this NON-SENSE. If I go to jail for this - let me be the first to do it because we love our children. I have said more than enough here, it has been poorly planned from DAY ONE! Where is Lee Lam Thye who wept at one of the death. How can such an important incident, only a NS Training Council member came out with a statement promised that another internal investigation would be conducted. Meanwhile the NS Training Department director-general was quoted as saying that the training programme will not be scrapped "just because of one or two deaths". We find this an absolutely insensitive remark when another life was lost. This is more the reason to STOP THE NS NOW!

Sherley,Johor:
Why are these happening so frequently? Can someone give us explanation? Those victims'family are the one who are going to suffer because of the death of their loved one.

Can someone unveil the truth to them and the public?

Luqman:
"We cannot accept the official explanation. We are suing to get the truth. She is gone for good. Money cannot bring her back." If the family thinks money won't ease the pain, they shouldn't go for a lawsuit. Instead, they should file a criminal charge. That would reveal more truth than just a lawsuit.

Brian, Batu Pahat:
The NS Programme should be scrapped. I do not see the positive side of this programme other than misery to families of the 22 dead trainees. The NS Programme should be reviewed.

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