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Ling (right) visibly distraught as family members and friends gather to pay their respects. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (April 7): “There’s no need to go so far.” Those were the quiet, heavy words of Ling Kuok Hui, father of trainee teacher Christopher Ling Jia Siang, as he struggles to come to terms with the loss of his son in a kayaking tragedy in Kedah.
Christopher, a Sarawakian trainee at Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Perlis campus, drowned on April 4 during a kayaking activity alongside fellow trainee Joey Ling from Sibu, amid rough sea conditions.
Speaking to reporters at Chan Funeral Services Parlour, Mile 5, Ling expressed concern over training programmes being held far from home.
“If it’s done here, at least we can look after him, but we cannot do anything when he is that far away from us,” he said.
He also highlighted the risks for young people, particularly those from urban areas, who may be unprepared for open sea conditions.
“Children who grow up in cities, if you ask them to swim in the open sea, it’s not realistic.
“It’s dangerous, very dangerous,” he stressed.
Although Christopher knew how to swim, he was not a strong swimmer. What seemed calm from the shore could quickly turn hazardous once in the water.
“When you are actually in the sea, the situation is not the same.
“The waves keep pushing you back, you cannot move forward,” Ling explained.
According to information provided to the family, strong waves may have contributed to the incident.
The post-mortem later indicated that Christopher had struck an object in the water before drowning.
“He hit something… his head, his hand.
“But now, whatever is said, it doesn’t matter anymore. My child is gone,” Ling said, his voice trailing.
He also expressed frustration over the lack of clear answers from authorities.
“They only say they will investigate thoroughly.
“In the end, I don’t know… it’s always like this,” he said.
He added that initial accounts suggested visibility issues during the incident, with some claiming they could not clearly see what had happened due to distance.
Describing his son as quiet and independent, Ling recalled that Christopher had been in the programme for two years.
“He was a good boy. Wherever he went, he did well, but he never sought attention,” said Ling.
“He solved his own problems, only when he really couldn’t manage would he come to us and ask.”
Due to Ling’s night shift work, most communication about the programme had been with Christopher’s mother.
The training programme was expected to last a week, but the tragedy occurred on its second day.
Ling said his wife had reminded their son to be careful before he left — and now, those words linger painfully.
The mourning period will be held from April 7 to April 9, with the encoffining ceremony on April 9 at 8am, followed by funeral services at 9am.
The cortege will then proceed to Nirvana Memorial Park crematorium.
English (US) ·