Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians have filed an emergency motion in Parliament to debate the collapse of a newly-built suspension bridge across the Sungai Kampar.

The incident occurred last night while 22 students participating in a '1Malaysia' camp were crossing the river, at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang near Kampar.

Several students were saved, but one student drowned and two others are still missing.

dap education roundtable meeting 111006 m kulasegaran Parliamentarians M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat, left ) and Lee Boon Chye (PKR-Gopeng) filed the emergency motion under Section 18(1) of the Standing Order at 11.15am.

They want the speaker to specifically address the progress of search efforts; whether the camping programme should be suspended temporarily until safety is assured; and actions to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.

Both MPs later said that all camping programmes organised under the 1Malaysia banner should be called off immediately, pending a thorough investigation into the tragedy.

NONE Some 290 students from 60 primary schools in Kampar, Tronoh and Batu Gajah had arrived at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Dipang earlier yesterday to participate in 1Malaysia camp organised by the Kinta Selatan District Education Department.

The tragedy occurred around 10.30pm yesterday while the 22 students were crossing the 30m wide river from the campsite to the school, for dinner.

"Why were the students allowed to cross a river that has such a strong current (and) at night?" asked Kulasegaran at a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

NONE “The camping programme has turned into a gruesome tragedy... I appeal to the authorities to discontinue all these camping programmes until the findings of the investigation are made public.”

Lee claimed that the structure of the newly-built bridge does not comply with safety requirements.

NONE He implied that that there were no supervision by teachers or others on duty.

“(The students were not wearing) safety jackets when crossing the river and there were only 12 teachers in charge of the 298 pupils,” said Lee.

He alleged that search-and-rescue efforts were not up to mark due to lack of equipment.

“For example, four boats supplied by the Fire Department did not have a spot-light and officers had to use a torchlight,” said Lee.

Search for solutions

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong said the government is taking all measures necessary to identify solutions.

wee ka siong “The search and rescue department is doing their best... I understand that the structure (of the bridge) was newly built but an investigation is being conducted. We take this very seriously,” he said.

“It would be premature for me to jump the gun or come up with conclusions, so let the relevant authorities investigate."

While the government is saddened, he sad, extracurricula activities need to be continued. Measures will be taken to protect the safety of students.