Guan Eng calls for Dragon boat tragedy inquiry

By Lee Wei Lian

PETALING JAYA, Jan 21 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has called for a full public and independent inquiry into the boating tragedy in Penang that claimed the lives of five students and a teacher from the Chung Ling High School.

A preliminary investigation by the Penang state education department apparently showed that the Chung Ling High School management did not adhere fully to safety guidelines for co-curricular activities issued by the department.

“Whilst the Penang Education Department had immediately pinned the blame on Chung Ling school, justice and fair play demands that a full public and independent inquiry must first be held before judgment is passed,” said Lim in a statement to the media today.

Lim also extended condolences to the families of the deceased on behalf of the Penang state government,

State Education Director Ibrahim Mohammad was reported by Bernama to have said that guidelines required the school management to inform the security authorities of the activities to ensure that the students’ safety was monitored and added that a further investigations would be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.

The drownings occured when a group of 15 students, two instructors and a teacher had gone for a dragon boat training exercise off the coast of Penang last Sunday.

It was reported by The Star newspaper that only three of the 18 people on the boat wore life-jackets and that it was not a common practice for the team to do so.

Two of the drowned persons wore life jackets — the teacher Chin Aik Siang and a student Jason Ch’ng.

The Penang Dragon Boat Association chairman and Asian Dragon Boat Federation vice-chairman Lai Chew Hock was also quoted as saying that water sports activities should never have been allowed in the area where the drownings occured due to unpredictable currents and numerous haphazard structures belonging to fishermen.

Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law was also criticised by some for holding last year’s Dragon Boat Race at the Bandar Sri Pinang fishermen’s jetty which is less than 1km from where the tragedy occurred, instead of at the Teluk Bahang dam as in the past.

My Take on this issue !

Kit Siang , aren't you going to call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry ?

Liow Tiong Lai , where are you ? as the Health Minister and as the MCA Pg State Chairman ? or just following PM around like a good poodle ? You disappeared when you should have shown your hide around .

The State Govt has also got to be held responsible for changing the venues and not seeking the views or consult the various marine time agencies on the suitablity of the venue . This has never happened before in Penang as it has always been held either in MengKuang Dam or the Telok Bahang dam or some other sea venues where the under current is not strong .