GUA MUSANG: THE two Orang Asli children who survived in the dense jungle of Kelantan after going missing for 46 days from their school at SK Tohoi here last year have yet to go back to school.
The parents and guardians of Noreen Yaakob, 11, and Mirsudiar Aluj, 12, said the pupils were hesitant to return to their old school due to the psychological trauma they suffered.
Noreen’s mother, Midah Angah, 41, said her daughter had been staying with her aunt (Midah’s sister) in Kuala Lumpur since May.
“It is hard for her to stay in the village because the trauma from the experience still haunts her,” said Midah at her home in Kampung Penad here.
Noreen and Mirsudiar were the only survivors of the seven pupils who went missing on Aug 23 last year.
It was believed that the students ran away from the school’s hostel because they were scared of being punished by their teacher, who caught them bathing at a river near the school several days earlier.
Noreen’s younger brother, Haikal, died during their ordeal in the jungle, together with their friends Ika Ayel, 9, Juvina David, 7, Linda Rosli, 8, and Sasa Sobrie, 8.
“Noreen has also been crying every night thinking about Haikal,” Midah said.
She said she had no problem getting Noreen to school as long as it was not SK Tohoi, or the nearby SK Kuala Betis.
“I would be happy if she could be enrolled in a school with a hostel around Gua Musang so that she can study in a safe and peaceful environment,” she said, adding that Noreen would be back home in October for a follow-up medical check up.
“She is scheduled for a check-up at Raja Perempuan Zainab II hospital in Kota Bharu. We will discuss her schooling then,” she said.
Mirsudiar’s uncle, Akek Bahel, 47, said his niece stopped going to school because her mother (Akek’s sister) feared for her daughter’s safety.
“I told my younger sister Rosita (Mirsudiar’s mother) several times to send her back to school to prevent her from dropping out.
“She said she would only go back to school if it was not SK Tohoi. She is still scarred by her experiences in the jungle,” he said.
Also at the interview was Mirsudiar, who said she was suffering from a heart problem following the traumatic incident and required treatment at Gua Musang hospital every month.
“I miss my friends, but I don’t want to return to SK Tohoi. I don’t know where to go,” she said.
District education officer Muhammad Zahari Othman said the department had asked the parents of both pupils to name the school of their choice.
“We understand the situation and it is up to the parents to send them back to their school of choice.
“We are ready to process their applications,” he said.