Days after the body of Joey Ling Lin Siang was brought home to Sibu, her younger brother has taken to Facebook with a raw and emotional plea — urging the public to help keep the pressure on authorities and demanding that those responsible for organising the fatal kayaking activity be held fully accountable.
‘I’m here to seek justice for my sister’
In a Facebook post that has been circulating widely, Joshua Ling wrote directly to his late sister before addressing the public, opening with the words: “My dearest third sister, I am here on Facebook to seek justice for you.”
He urged Malaysians to rally behind the cause and help amplify the story, warning that the youth of both victims — Joey, 20, and fellow trainee Christopher Ling Jia Siang, 21 — made it all too easy for the incident to be quietly swept under the rug.
I hope the public can lend their strength to keep this in the spotlight, because my sister and the other young man were living people who cannot simply disappear from our lives without consequence,” he wrote. ”
“Because of their young age, this could very easily lead to their sacrifice being forgotten, which would then cause more tragedies to happen to others.”
“I truly beseech the public to lend their strength to seek justice for my third sister and the other young man,” he wrote.
“They cannot die in vain.”
The tragedy that shook Sarawak
Joey Ling Lin Siang, 20, from Sibu, and Christopher Ling Jia Siang, 21, from Kuching, were participating in an Outdoor Education Programme organised by Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Kampus Perlis when their kayak capsized at Pantai Merdeka near Sungai Petani, Kedah, on Saturday, April 4.
Preliminary investigations indicated that strong waves and swift currents caused several kayaks to capsize.
The victims’ kayak was believed to have become entangled in a fishing net, making it difficult for them to escape. Their bodies were found at around 7.30pm, both still wearing life jackets.
The tragedy was compounded by the manner in which the family first found out. Joey’s father received the news through a stranger’s phone call at 9.50pm.
“It was 9.50pm when a stranger called, asking me if I am Joey’s father, and then telling me that my daughter is gone,” he said.
He noted bitterly that Perlis IPG never offered a formal notice to the family.
Ministry vows accountability
The Ministry of Education has since moved to address the fallout.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry takes full responsibility for the tragedy.
Justice must be served for the families. A transparent, thorough, and comprehensive investigation is underway. Any breaches of regulations will be addressed, and no one will be shielded from accountability,” she said.
Several officers directly involved in organising the programme have been temporarily placed at the Perlis State Education Department pending the outcome of the investigation.
All IPG campuses nationwide have also been directed to suspend high-risk water-based activities with immediate effect until further notice. Borneo Post
