Sibu MP Oscar Ling urges a nationwide review of high-risk activity SOPs after two IPG trainee teachers drowned during a kayaking exercise in Kedah.
SIBU: Sibu Member of Parliament Oscar Ling Chai Yew has called for an immediate review of standard operating procedures for high-risk activities following a fatal kayaking incident last Saturday.
He stated that the tragedy exposed critical weaknesses in safety management that require urgent action from the relevant authorities.
“The Ministry of Education must coordinate and strengthen SOPs for high-risk activities involving all IPGs nationwide, particularly water-based and outdoor training,” he said in a statement.
Ling also urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and make the findings public while providing proper explanations to the victims’ families.
He further proposed implementing a stricter approval system, including independent professional assessments before any activity is carried out.
These assessments must account for weather conditions, environmental factors, equipment safety, and clear guidelines to cancel activities if safety requirements are not met.
The incident claimed the lives of two Bachelor of Teaching Programme Physical Education students from the Institut Pendidikan Guru Perlis Campus.
The victims, Christopher Ling Jia Siang, 21, and Joey Ling Lin Siang, 20, were found drowned at about 7.30 pm while participating in a kayaking activity at Pantai Merdeka, Sungai Petani.
