Two Sarawakian students drown after kayak capsizes during campus programme

Christopher Ling Jia Siang, 21, from Kuching (left) and Joey Ling Lin Siang, 20, from Sibu (right), tragically lost their lives after their kayak capsized during a campus Outdoor Education Programme. Photo credit: Facebook/IPG Perlis

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Apr 6: Two Sarawakian students from Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Perlis (IPG Perlis) drowned after a kayak capsized during an off-campus programme on Saturday (Apr 4) at Pantai Merdeka near Sungai Petani, Kedah.

The victims were identified as Christopher Ling Jia Siang, 21, from Kuching, and Joey Ling Lin Siang, 20, from Sibu, who were participating in an Outdoor Education Programme organised by the campus when the incident occurred.

Following the tragedy, the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) expressed its condolences to the families of the victims.

The ministry said immediate assistance is being arranged for the families involved, while psychosocial support has also been provided. It added that the welfare and wellbeing of those affected remain a priority.

“MOE is deeply saddened by the incident and extends its condolences to the families of the students involved.

“We pray that the families are given strength and resilience in facing this difficult time,” the statement said.

The ministry added that the incident is currently under investigation by the authorities. At the same time, it has initiated an internal probe to examine compliance with the relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs).

All institutions under the ministry have also been reminded to ensure that outdoor activities strictly comply with existing SOPs, with participant safety given full attention.

Meanwhile, according to Bernama, Kuala Muda police chief Hanyan Ramlan said preliminary investigations found that the kayak capsized due to rough sea conditions, with the victims later discovered entangled in a local fisherman’s net.

He said the case would be referred to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for further investigation into the cause of the maritime incident.

The incident occurred at about 5pm on Sunday (Apr 5) and the victims’ bodies were recovered at about 7.30pm the same day, with both wearing life jackets at the time. The case has been classified as sudden death. — DayakDaily