Waytha's office clears confusion over Kuala Koh death toll
An aide to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy has cleared the confusion over the number of deaths involving Orang Asli from the Bateq tribe in Kuala Koh.
Andrew Sagayam confirmed a total of 14 deaths among the Bateq villagers in Kuala Koh, and noted that 12 bodies have not undergone postmortem...
An aide to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy has cleared the confusion over the number of deaths involving Orang Asli from the Bateq tribe in Kuala Koh.
Andrew Sagayam confirmed a total of 14 deaths among the Bateq villagers in the area, and noted that 12 bodies have not undergone postmortem.
The two deaths cited by the police, he noted, may have referred to cases where the cause of death was known.
"The death toll is 14," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini today.
"The two we have done the checks are confirmed (to be from the illness)."
Asked whether postmortems will be conducted on the remaining 12 bodies, Sagayam said he is unsure and that the matter is now under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry.
Earlier today, Waythamoorthy attended a briefing on the Kuala Koh outbreak at the Kelantan Health Department Disease Control Division.
After the briefing, the minister explained that the two of the deaths were due to pneumonia.
He added, however, that the cause of the outbreak is thus far unknown.
Locals previously claimed that the outbreak was caused by water contamination from a nearby iron ore mine.
In a statement yesterday, the Health Ministry referred to claims that 13 villagers were found dead within a month and said only two cases of deaths have had their post-mortem done at the Gua Musang hospital.
Both the deaths have been found to be caused by pneumonia.
“The other deaths cannot be verified because they were never reported,” the statement read.
Another Orang Asli villager, who showed symptoms of lung infection, died this morning, bringing the death toll to 14.
RELATED REPORTS
Contact between Orang Asli and outsiders to be restricted in Kuala Koh
NGO seeking donations for Kuala Koh Orang Asli struck by 'mysterious illness'
Deaths of Orang Asli in Kuala Koh due to pneumonia - Waytha
Another Kuala Koh Orang Asli villager dies of lung infection
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.