Relatives, friends mourn death of UTAR students

2009/11/02

P. Chandra Sagaran

KAMPAR: Dozens of family members, relatives and friends of the three Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) undergraduates who drowned at the Batu Berangkai waterfalls here yesterday turned up at the mortuary as the bodies were released today.

The mourners wept openly as the remains of James Khor Wan Kai, 20, from Halaman Macalister, Georgetown, Penang; Yew Ghim Chnieh, 20, of Kampung Valdor, Sungai Bakap, Penang; and Yew Shy Gin, 21, from Taman Sejati, Sungai Petani, Kedah; were taken to their respective hometowns.

Khor was the only child in the family. His father Khor Ewe Kok, 51, said he met his son two weeks ago when he came to Penang, stayed with them for a week and left for holidays to Langkawi, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur.

Yew Ghim Chnieh's uncle, who declined to be identified, said he received a call at 8pm and rushed to Kampar with family members.

"Ghim Chnieh is the eldest of three siblings; he was a jovial and easy-going guy who would make friends easily."

Ghim Chnieh's father died five years from cancer.

Shy Gin's lecturer identified only as Koh, described her as a hardworking student. She was majoring in Chinese studies. She was the youngest of three siblings.

Meanwhile, Rashid Arshad, an employee of the Kampar district council, who lives in the area, said so far this year, six people had drowned in the waterfalls.

"There are four spots along the waterfalls which are risky,” he said.

Kampar police chief Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh said the question of safety precautions will be raised during the meeting with the district council.

“We want to find ways to ensure such incidents do not recur,” he said.

"There are signboards warning of the dangers along the waterfalls. Maybe we need more warning signs.”

In the incident, yesterday evening, four undergraduates had gone to the waterfalls for a swim, but a sudden gush of water swept them away.

One of them escaped with bruises.

Khor’s body was found 300 metres away by villagers at Kampung Badak Berendam about 9.40pm while Shy Gin’s remains were discovered at the Bukit Terang orang asli village, about two kilometres from the scene at 10pm. Ghim Chnieh’s body was found just after midnight not far from where Khor was found.

Police today advised the public against going to Batu Berangkai Waterfall for picnics during the current weather conditions. Kampar district police chief Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh said although the place looks safe, the area could be dangerous for picnickers when it rains.