SANDAKAN LANDSLIDE: FATHER WAS DUE TO RETURN TO KOTA KINABALU BEFORE TRAGEDY - SON

SANDAKAN, March 12 (Bernama) -- An elderly man, Agustine Frederick J. Lingam, who died in a landslide near Block 10 here yesterday, was due to return to Kota Kinabalu to meet his family.

The victim’s son, Lionel Aaron Lingam, 45, said his father had been preparing to leave for Kota Kinabalu on an 11 am flight, but the plan did not materialise following the landslide incident.

Lionel said all family members are in Kota Kinabalu, as his father was originally from Beaufort and grew up in Papar before working for more than 30 years in Sandakan, including in the Seguntor area, as well as four years in the hospitality sector.

“I rushed to Sandakan after hearing the news about my father from my uncle… my heart is shattered. When I held his bag earlier, his clothes were already packed, and the flight ticket was there… he was ready to go to Kota Kinabalu, but unfortunately, the disaster happened,” he said.

He said this after receiving disaster aid from the state government amounting to RM10,000, presented by Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) president Walter Kenson here today.

Lionel, who also expressed his appreciation to the state government for the cash assistance, said the family planned to bring his father’s remains to Kota Kinabalu today for the funeral.

“My father really loved living in Sandakan. I am grateful to the government agencies involved in helping to retrieve my father from the landslide debris,” he said.

Meanwhile, Walter said the MPS has placed a temporary closure notice at Block 10, Lebuh 4 here, pending the outcome of safety investigations on the slope structure in the affected area.

“I expect the investigation will take a few days, including taking into account the current unstable weather conditions. We will issue the technical report as soon as possible.

“The building cannot be entered as the situation is dangerous, and the occupants have been placed at the temporary relief centre at the Sandakan Community Hall,” he said.

Lionel was also presented with four food baskets at the event, two each from the Malaysia Civil Defence Force and the Social Welfare Department.

Yesterday, Agustine, 76, died after being buried in a landslide behind a hotel at Block 10 here while trying to start the hotel’s generator after heavy rain triggered a power outage.

-- BERNAMA