Move to foster ties between Orang Asli and SK Tohoi

Kelantan Education Department to hold more community programmes organised by the department or NGOs and those from the corporate sector.

GUA MUSANG: The Kelantan Education Department will use new approaches to foster closer ties between Orang Asli parents and children and the management of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tohoi, here.

Its director, Ab Aziz Abdullah said among the approaches was to hold more community programmes organised by the department or non-governmental organisations and the corporate sector.

“We want our relationship to continue to be close,” he said after attending a reception for Orang Asli residents, organised by Tesco Malaysia Berhad, at Pos Tohoi, here, today.

At the event, Tesco director Azlam Shah Alias handed over donations to the families of the missing seven pupils of SK Tohoi, the school teachers and pupils, and members of the search-and rescue (SAR) team.

Ab Aziz hoped the Orang Asli pupils from surrounding villages would return to school and try to forget the incident that befell their friends.

“Actually, those who are absent from school now are respecting what has happened to the seven pupils and they will come back to school after this,” he said.

Seven Orang Asli pupils were reported to have escaped from the school’s hostel on August 23 for fear of punishment after going for a swim in the river without permission from their teacher.

They were Juvina David, 7, Linda Rosli, 8, Sasa Sobrie, 8, Ika Ayel, 9, Haikal Yaakob, 8, Norieen Yaakob, 10, and Miksudiar Aluj, 11.

Miksudiar and Norieen were found safe after the search operation entered the 48th day. The SAR team also found two bodies and two skeletal remains of children.

On October 16, one of the two skeletal remains was confirmed as belonging to Juvina and one of the two bodies, of Ika.

– BERNAMA