Citizen Journalism Blog

Someone left a list of questions on Malaysiakini’s site regarding the dragon boat tragedy. I feel those are very pertinent questions and want to note it over here so that if I have a chance, I will direct the questions to the right authority.

As a citizen journalist, I have the opportunity to enter the site and have access to the briefing and press conference by the relevant authorities. When I was there earlier, they haven’t found all the bodies and hence, works were concentrated on find them missing young men.

It was a good time to ask too many questions because, putting it in the wrong sentence, one can be seen as witch-hunting or finger pointing.

by saengch
This is a tremendous tragedy. Could the journalist please investigate some of these questions? (1) How many of the team were wearing life jackets?

(at the moment, we seem to be getting different answers from two parties, the police and the fire and rescue team. We know the first victim was wearing a life jacket but he was trapped and drowned. When the second victim was found, we asked again but no confirmed answer was given)

(2) How many of the deaths and missing members involve not wearing jackets and how many did wear life jacket?
(Although life jackets seems to be the life saver, unfortunately, given the circumstances, it may not help much. With the traumatised survivors, it is probably hard to get the confirmed answer at the moment but I hope they will indeed get some ideas later on.)

(3) Were the life jack just inadequate in number, or not suitable for rowing exercise (too thick), or was it lack of supervision that cause any not to wear them under the heat of exercise in the morning sun?
(my nephew who used to be a dragon boat participant told me that they used to take it off and sat on it because the life jacket makes rowing difficult. Youths being youths, are carefree)

(4) Was there inadequate fund for life jacket from the school or government?
(this is one of my main concern because it is a known fact that our Federal Gov does not give full funding to Chinese, Tamil, Missionary and Agama schools. Thsi sport is more a school based initiative.)

(5) Was the muddy area a factor that trap the swimmers (3rd day of lunar month, lowest tide rising at 9am)?

(the whole area is totally not suitable for anyone to venture in because the sea is muddy but further away, big ships anchored there. Moreover, the ground is a junkyard, full of danger)

(5) Was it true about an informal report of earlier collisions of several dragon boats on 14 of Jan and one rower having fallen into the waters, not raising enough alarm by authority?

(I asked this question on a private basis and was given to understand by several independent parties that the schools have used the location for several years to do their practices. It is free, unlike proper water sports area. And the other reason given was it is conveniently located. However, the state does have to answer why they shifted the dragon boat competition to the surrounding area last year. I was given to understand that they will shift it back this year.)

(6) Was the lack of floats/boays, marking lines, bad planning, lack of safety engineering check of the first-time-use muddy area a factor?

(There is absolutely no bouys, no markers. It is an open, dirty, muddy sea.)

All the above are based on my observation and findings from my short trips to the site, twice.