BATANG KALI – Police have called the operator of the Father’s Organic Farm campsite and two of its workers yesterday to assist them in the investigation of the landslide tragedy that has claimed 24 lives so far.
Hulu Selangor district police chief Suffian Abdullah said the campsite operator, in his 50s, and two male workers, both in their 30s, came to the Hulu Selangor district police station to give their statements.
“We may be calling more parties involved to assist in the investigation,” he told a joint media conference with Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Norazam Khamis at the scene of the landslide here today.
Prior to this, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming had said that the campsite had operated without a licence from the Hulu Selangor District Council.
In the incident at about 2.42am on Friday, a landslide nearly 300m long and 70m high hit the campsite on Jalan Genting-Batang Kali here.
Meanwhile, Suffian said the 15 bodies of the landslide victims, comprising two adult men, eight adult women, two boys, and three girls, were handed over to their next of kin yesterday.
He said nine more bodies were still at Sg Buloh Hospital for post-mortem and waiting to be claimed by their next of kin.
“We request the next of kin and family involved, or friends who know about this to go to Sg Buloh Hospital to make identification and facilitate the return of the bodies to the family,” he said.
He said a special team had been set up at the hospital concerned to help manage matters on the documentation and handing over of the bodies to the families.
Today is the third day of the search-and-rescue operation. Of the 94 victims involved, nine are still missing. – Bernama, December 18, 2022
