Sabah quake heroes receive posthumous National Day Awards
The teachers, staff and instructors who protected the Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) students during the tragic Sabah earthquake have been commended for their devotion to duty and exemplary conduct.
A total of 16 National Day awards will be given to these heroes.
These include posthumous awards for five teachers and camp instructors, including two Malaysian trainers Ricky Masirin and Valerian Joannes (below).
Seven TKPS pupils and two teachers died, along with a Singaporean adventure guide Muhammad Daanish Amran.
The school had gone up Mount Kinabalu on June 5 when an earthquake of magnitude 5.9 struck.
Mr Daanish, 22, (below) is survived by his parents and two younger siblings.
The two TKPS teachers were Mr Mohammad Ghazi and Mr Terrence Sebastian Loo.
Mr Ghazi, 35, (below) is survived by his wife Khalidal Huda Sukaimi, a teacher at East View Secondary School, and three children. The youngest child is just a year old.
Ms Khalidal is also expecting her fourth child.
Meanwhile, Mr Loo, 29, leaves behind his parents and elder sister.
Following the quake, Mr Loo's family released a statement to the media detailing his "genuine" character and "kind soul".
His family said: "Terence was a smart young man... Terence was a teacher and a protector, and although we are extremely saddened with loss, we are also extremely proud.
"Besides being an educator, Terrence was also a much beloved son and brother who was genuine in character, strong in spirit and most of all, a kind soul," said his family.
Sabah Earthquake Fund
Additionally, following the outpouring of support to contribute to the families of these victims, the closing date for the Sabah Earthquake Fund set up in June has been extended to Aug 31.
Besides the three Singaporean teachers and staff, the fund will also help the families of mountain guides and trainers whose livelihoods were affected. These include trainers from Mountain Torq, the company that runs Via Ferrata trail used by the TKPS group.
More details about the fund can be found here.
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