Documents link Malaysian company to fatal campsite landslide

Documents link Malaysian company to fatal campsite landslide

2023-10-06

More than nine months after a deadly landslide struck a campsite in Batang Kali, Malaysia, families of the victims are still waiting to see the results of a government investigation. Voice of America has reviewed records that reveal previously unreported details about the campsite. Dave Grunebaum has the story.

A company in this urban business park on the outskirts of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, appears to have a connection to a deadly disaster.

A landslide in the countryside community of Batang Kali, about 50 kilometers north.

Thirty-one people were killed in December, after the earth swept over their tents overnight at a campsite on Father’s Organic Farm.

Nine and a half months later, the government has not released findings from its investigation.

Loh Teng Shui
Father of landslide victim
The families want accountability. And also, we want steps to be taken to prevent these incidents from happening again.

Also killed in the landslide was seven-year-old Zech, the only child of Loh Teng Shui and his wife, Tan Ei Ein.

Loh Teng Shui
Father of landslide victim
The families deserve the full, comprehensive, unfiltered report, which covers all aspects, not just the technicality of the landslide.

Land records reviewed by VOA show that at the time of the landslide, the farm and campsite were on property owned by Malaysia Botanical Gardens Resort. The company lists its offices in this tower in Horizon office park, the same building that’s the headquarters for Nirvana Asia Group a funeral service provider that’s controlled by one of the country’s wealthiest families.

Nirvana Asia is led by Kong Yew Foong, pictured on the company’s website, and his father, Kong Hon Kong, whose net worth Forbes estimates at $860 million.

Records kept by the Companies Commission of Malaysia lists both Kongs as directors at Malaysia Botanical Gardens Resort. The Kongs turned down VOA’s request for an interview.

VOA also recently reviewed an environmental impact assessment, or EIA, report but was not allowed to photograph or record video of it. The report shows that in 2013,the department of environment approved a proposal for a resort, but the site where Father’s Organic Farm was operating later was in a different area.

Teckwyn Lim is an honorary associate professor of geography at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.

Teckwyn Lim
University of Nottingham Malaysia
The EIA makes it quite clear that the area for the farm and campsite was not to be developed, and the implication is that it was not safe to be developed.

Several days after the landslide, however, a government official said Father’s had a permit to operate as an organic farm, but the state did not have a specific license for campsites. But a crucial question remains.

Loh Teng Shui
Father of landslide victim
How did the farm get the permit to operate?

Teckwyn Lim
University of Nottingham Malaysia
They did not get permission from the department of the environment.

So far, government officials have refused to discuss details of their investigation. They have told local media they’ll release the findings this month, something families of the victims say is long overdue.

Dave Grunebaum, VOA News Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


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