With regards to your message in response to tragedy at Mt. Kinabalu. It cannot be more appropriate than now to send you this open letter, being the first day of a new school term, and considering how painful especially today for the parents of those 12-year old kids who had lost their lives in the tragic trekking trip at Mount Kinabalu on 5th June 2015.

The father of a Singaporean student who survived the earthquake at Mount Kinabalu has called mountain guide Mohd Rizuan Kauhinin to thank him for rescuing his son, expressing the hope that they would be able to meet soon.

Our order was very complicated, with fourteen drinks on it. I offhandedly mentioned that this was for the volunteers at TKPS, to explain why we were ordering so much. Once the elderly auntie who ran the bar prepared our drinks, she declared them all free of charge. My friend and I balked at the offer, insisting that she accept the $50 that we had brought as a token if not payment. Instead, the auntie took only $6, calling it a lucky number. $6 for at least $20 worth of drinks.

You are living out the reality of our biggest collective fear as parents. I lose sight of my child for one moment in the playground and I can barely breathe; the very idea that I may not lay my eyes on her again leaves me paralyzed. You have had your children taken from you so tragically, so suddenly. This is perhaps the darkest a parent’s life can get. And I know that perhaps, at this moment, you are not ready for our condolences, our sympathies, our solidarity. But I want you to know that you do not mourn alone.

Let's stop the blame game. The fact is that no one would have guessed that mother nature would takeaway the lives of these young students and their teacher and guide so cruelly. I don't understand why netizens are trying to pin the blame of the Education Minister and guilt-tripping the school principal. The school has been organising such trips for 7 years with no accidents and the students have benefited immensely from the experience. But netizens did not praise them for a job well-done.