Several officials from the Perlis Teacher Education Institute (IPG) have reportedly been transferred following the tragic kayak incident that claimed the lives of two trainee teachers earlier this month.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the institute’s director and two officers from its sports unit were temporarily reassigned to the Perlis State Education Department.
The report stated that the three officers received the transfer directive on April 7, which was four days after the fatal incident occurred.
The institute has also allegedly been instructed not to issue statements regarding the matter, with both staff and trainees reportedly told not to comment publicly on the tragedy.
Two trainee teachers drowned during kayaking activity
The incident happened on April 4 during a kayaking activity at Pantai Merdeka in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
A group of sports unit trainees from the institute had been participating in the activity when several kayaks capsized, causing multiple trainees to fall into the sea.
Two trainees, identified as Christopher Ling Jia Siang and Joey Ling Lin Siang, both in their 20s, drowned in the incident.
Both were part of the institute’s 2025 to 2029 intake and had enrolled in the sports unit in August last year.
Four other female trainees were rescued and later sent to hospital for treatment.
Their bodies were brought back to their respective hometowns in Kuching and Sibu for funeral arrangements, with their funerals held today (Apr 9)
Counselling and leave provided for those involved
Following the incident, the institute reportedly granted four days of leave beginning April 6 to trainees who had participated in the kayaking activity.
Several trainees were also allowed to travel to Sarawak to attend the funerals of their late coursemates.
The Ministry of Education and the institute have since arranged psychological counselling for trainees and lecturers involved in the incident.
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