ALOR GAJAH: A sombre air enveloped the house as soon as the bodies of three in a family arrived at their residence here on Thursday (Dec 22).
A six-year-old girl from Machap Baru, who died along with three of her family members in the tragic landslide at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali on Dec 16, was the first to be cremated while the memorial service of the remaining victims will be held at their family home in Taman Machap Indah here.
Machap Baru New Village headman Tai Pek Kuan said the victim, identified as Giselle Lai Yu Xi, had to be cremated at the Jasin Chinese burial ground on Wednesday (Dec 21) due to the condition of the body which was retrieved from under piles of earth at the incident site in Batang Kali on Tuesday (Dec 20) night.
“The body of the girl was the last to be discovered among her other family members, who were also killed, but had to be cremated first.
“Her parents and two-year-old brother will be cremated at the same burial ground at Kesang, Jasin, on Dec 27,” he said when met at the housing estate after the remains of the three arrived at the family home on Thursday.
Tai said Melaka Yang Di-Pertua Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam is also expected to attend the memorial service on Friday (Dec 23).
“I know this family very well, the husband used to work as manager in Kuala Lumpur while his wife took care of the two children.
“The victims’ family members were not able to accept that all four had perished in the incident,” he said.
Tai said the villagers at Machap Baru New Village also mourned the tragic loss of their fellow villagers.
Earlier, the hearse carrying the remains of Lai Chee Sam, 33; his wife Lai See Ting, 31; and son Joans Lai Ze Kai arrived at the family home at about 3.45pm on Thursday.
Their family members were distraught and in tears when the hearse arrived.
Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Arshad Abu also paid his last respects to the three deceased.
#TanahRuntuhBatangKali: Mayat mangsa tanah runtuh, pasangan suami isteri Lai Chee Sam dan Lai See Ting serta dua anaknya tiba di kediaman keluarga mereka di Kampung Machap Baru, Melaka pada 3.45 petang ini.
