Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared last night that 8 June will be set as a day of National Remembrance. State flags on all Government buildings will be flown at half-mast and one minute of silence will be observed at the beginning of the day at all SEA Games venues.
Ministry of Education (MOE) confirmed yesterday that bodies of 7 more Singaporeans have been identified as part of the death toll due to the earthquake on 5 June, bringing the total death toll of Singaporeans to be 8.
Operations are continuing to locate the remaining one student Navdeep Singh Jaryal S/O Raj Kumar, and teacher Mohammad Ghazi Bin Mohamed.
The below is his statement in full,
Am very sad to learn that 8 bodies recovered from Mount Kinabalu have been identified as 1 teacher and 6 students from Tanjong Katong Primary School, plus an adventure guide who accompanied them. Our hearts go out to their families, and to the TKPS community.
Our officers are in Kota Kinabalu helping and supporting the families. We are arranging to bring them home as soon as possible.
Even while we grieve for those who perished, we are thankful that others survived the earthquake and have come home safely.
I thank all who are working tirelessly in the rescue and recovery efforts – the Malaysian authorities, the search and rescue teams and hospital staff in KK, and all our officers in KK and Singapore.
I have declared tomorrow, 8 June, a Day of National Remembrance. State flags on all Government buildings will be flown at half-mast. One minute of silence will be observed at the beginning of the day at all SEA Games venues.
As we grieve over the loss of these young lives, we also take heart at their striving to stretch their limits and take on new challenges. May this tragic incident strengthen our sense of togetherness, and our resolve to overcome adversity and prevail as one united Singapore.