(Chengbangjiang, 6th) – Regarding the incident on April 4, 2026, where students from Perlis Teacher Training College participated in a kayaking activity at Kedah Independence Beach that resulted in two Sarawakian students tragically drowning, Dr. Wu Biaosheng, President of the Simu Chinese Association and Chengbangjiang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, made a stern statement today, pointing out that this incident was by no means a simple accident, but a consequence of human negligence.
He expressed his deepest condolences to the two victims—Lin Jiacheng (21, from Kuching) and Lin Lingxiang (20, from Sibu)—and extended heartfelt sympathies to their families.
“Parents work hard to send their children to teacher training colleges, hoping they will become exemplary teachers in the future, only to lose their lives in an activity that should never have taken place. Such a blow is unimaginable.”
Wu Biaosheng pointed out that, based on disclosed information, this accident involved several serious lapses of responsibility:
· Failure to report the activity to maritime enforcement agencies;
· Proceeding with the activity despite adverse sea conditions (strong waves, rapid currents);
· Lack of a professional rescue mechanism, resulting in failure to rescue students in time when they were entangled in fishing nets.
“This was not a sudden accident, but the cumulative result of a series of procedural arrogance and negligence.”
Problems that existed 36 years ago—why are they still taking lives now?
Wu Biaosheng bluntly stated that the risks associated with outdoor teacher training activities have existed for 36 years. He quoted someone who participated in similar training 36 years ago: “The sea training back then was just as dangerous—even now, remembering it is still frightening.”
He raised sharp questions:
“In 36 years, did the Ministry of Education not recognize these risks, or did they know but chose not to make changes?”
“Why is it that every time there is a fatality, there is a review, but nothing is changed after the review?”
“They’re just teachers—why should they be trained to ‘go through hell and high water’? Is such training needed just for teaching?”
“Why put student teachers in dangerous environments? Does teaching require risking your life for experience?”
Wu Biaosheng further stated that the mountain camping part of teacher training courses also involves obvious hazards, including threats from wild animals, sudden weather changes, and difficulties with communication and rescue. He emphasized: “Without adequate safety guarantees, these activities are not training—they are gambling with students’ lives.”
Five Demands: Someone Must Be Held Responsible, No More ‘Self-Investigation’
Wu Biaosheng put forward five explicit demands:
1. Establish an independent investigation committee
The Ministry of Education or the school should not investigate on their own; maritime agencies, professional outdoor safety bodies, and family representatives must be included.
2. Full disclosure of the investigation report
Clearly explain the decision-making chain: Who approved? Who assessed the risks? Who was present but did nothing?
3. Implement explicit accountability and disciplinary actions
Responsibility must be pursued from the organizing body, the team leaders, right up to the approval and supervisory levels.
4. End the phenomenon of ‘no one being held responsible’
“To date, no one has been held accountable. There has only been ‘internal investigation’, but no one has been named, suspended, or independently reviewed.”
He stressed: “After every tragedy, we hear the same promises—investigate, review, strengthen SOP. But then what? With no consequences, the system will never change.”
5. Call for involvement of the Teachers’ Association in supervision
Request the Teachers’ Association to represent parents and the education sector, and to continuously follow up on accountability.
Wu Biaosheng sternly pointed out that the two young students from Sarawak could have had bright futures, yet because of a series of entirely avoidable mistakes, lost their lives.
“They did not die because of the sea, but because of institutional arrogance and negligence.”
“Accountability is not about finding scapegoats, it’s about setting a baseline. If no one is truly held responsible this time, what it means is you’re telling every unit: ‘even if something goes wrong, there is no consequence.’”
He concluded by calling for a comprehensive review by the Ministry of Education of the necessity of such activities:
“Please stop organizing projects that are full of risks and have nothing to do with educational goals. Students come to be educated, not to risk their lives.”
“Today it’s kayaking, tomorrow it could be camping, hiking, or other off-campus activities—the forms may change, but the tragedy remains.”
“We cannot always act only after tragedies, nor keep covering up negligence as ‘regrettable incidents’. If nothing changes, the next victim could be someone else’s child.”
He expressed his deepest condolences to the two victims—Lin Jiacheng (21, from Kuching) and Lin Lingxiang (20, from Sibu)—and extended heartfelt sympathies to their families.
“Parents work hard to send their children to teacher training colleges, hoping they will become exemplary teachers in the future, only to lose their lives in an activity that should never have taken place. Such a blow is unimaginable.”
· Failure to report the activity to maritime enforcement agencies;
· Proceeding with the activity despite adverse sea conditions (strong waves, rapid currents);
· Lack of a professional rescue mechanism, resulting in failure to rescue students in time when they were entangled in fishing nets.
“This was not a sudden accident, but the cumulative result of a series of procedural arrogance and negligence.”
Problems that existed 36 years ago—why are they still taking lives now?
Wu Biaosheng bluntly stated that the risks associated with outdoor teacher training activities have existed for 36 years. He quoted someone who participated in similar training 36 years ago: “The sea training back then was just as dangerous—even now, remembering it is still frightening.”
He raised sharp questions:
“In 36 years, did the Ministry of Education not recognize these risks, or did they know but chose not to make changes?”
“Why is it that every time there is a fatality, there is a review, but nothing is changed after the review?”
“They’re just teachers—why should they be trained to ‘go through hell and high water’? Is such training needed just for teaching?”
“Why put student teachers in dangerous environments? Does teaching require risking your life for experience?”
Wu Biaosheng further stated that the mountain camping part of teacher training courses also involves obvious hazards, including threats from wild animals, sudden weather changes, and difficulties with communication and rescue. He emphasized: “Without adequate safety guarantees, these activities are not training—they are gambling with students’ lives.”
Five Demands: Someone Must Be Held Responsible, No More ‘Self-Investigation’
Wu Biaosheng put forward five explicit demands:
1. Establish an independent investigation committee
The Ministry of Education or the school should not investigate on their own; maritime agencies, professional outdoor safety bodies, and family representatives must be included.
2. Full disclosure of the investigation report
Clearly explain the decision-making chain: Who approved? Who assessed the risks? Who was present but did nothing?
3. Implement explicit accountability and disciplinary actions
Responsibility must be pursued from the organizing body, the team leaders, right up to the approval and supervisory levels.
4. End the phenomenon of ‘no one being held responsible’
“To date, no one has been held accountable. There has only been ‘internal investigation’, but no one has been named, suspended, or independently reviewed.”
He stressed: “After every tragedy, we hear the same promises—investigate, review, strengthen SOP. But then what? With no consequences, the system will never change.”
5. Call for involvement of the Teachers’ Association in supervision
Request the Teachers’ Association to represent parents and the education sector, and to continuously follow up on accountability.
Wu Biaosheng sternly pointed out that the two young students from Sarawak could have had bright futures, yet because of a series of entirely avoidable mistakes, lost their lives.
“They did not die because of the sea, but because of institutional arrogance and negligence.”
“Accountability is not about finding scapegoats, it’s about setting a baseline. If no one is truly held responsible this time, what it means is you’re telling every unit: ‘even if something goes wrong, there is no consequence.’”
He concluded by calling for a comprehensive review by the Ministry of Education of the necessity of such activities:
“Please stop organizing projects that are full of risks and have nothing to do with educational goals. Students come to be educated, not to risk their lives.”
“Today it’s kayaking, tomorrow it could be camping, hiking, or other off-campus activities—the forms may change, but the tragedy remains.”
“We cannot always act only after tragedies, nor keep covering up negligence as ‘regrettable incidents’. If nothing changes, the next victim could be someone else’s child.”