EDUCATION Minister Fadhlina Sidek confirmed that teachers and pupils from SJKC Mun Choong were involved in the landslide at Batang Kali, Selangor, early today.

However, she said the trip was not organised by the school and was, instead, a private visit.

“It may have been on a family trip or among friends, we are not sure yet. We are still trying to get the actual facts regarding their trip there,” she said at Sungai Buloh Hospital today, where the dead had started to arrive for post-mortem.

Fadhlina said the ministry was also trying to determine if children from other schools were caught up in the disaster.

She added that the ministry was ready to provide financial assistance and counselling to teachers and pupils, as well as the next-of-kin involved in the incident.

She also asked that relatives of those who died to be given space so that they can patiently go through the process of identifying the bodies.

“I wish to express my grief and condolences to the next of kin of the victims. Hopefully, this process can be expedited and simplified for everyone involved,” she said.

The landslide has so far claimed 21 lives, with 12 more people reported missing. Some 61 people survived. – Bernama, December 16, 2022.