Sabah quake: 2 missing S'poreans confirmed dead

He was a small boy with a big personality.

Friends described 13-year-old Navdeep Singh Jaryal Raj Kumar as a firecracker with an unmistakably boisterous laughter.

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Sadly, after being reported missing for five days, the Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) pupil was confirmed dead yesterday morning.

TKPS teacher Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed, who was also reported missing, was also confirmed dead. (See report on facing page.)

Both were climbing Mount Kinabalu when a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Sabah on Friday morning.

The news was a heavy blow to five fellow TKPS pupils who went on the same school trip as Navdeep.

Speaking to The New Paper yesterday, they all said Navdeep had left an indelible impression on them in the short time they had known him.

Arnaav Chabria, 11, said: "For the past few days, I've been praying and hoping that Navdeep was still alive.

"I cried when I heard the bad news."

The Primary 6 pupil added that Navdeep was popular in school and had plenty of friends.

"He's extremely well-liked. Everywhere he goes, people will say 'hi' to him.

"He's always trying to make people laugh and motivating them when they're feeling down.

"I'll miss the joy that he brings to people the most."

Raeka Ee, 12, added: "I was so shocked. Even though we only met at the start of the year, I'll miss him a lot."

Navdeep was a born leader who commanded respect, said Raeka.

"Everyone listened to him when he talked.

"When we were climbing stairs to train for the trip, he would encourage us not to give up when we were tired.

"He was like our cheerleader."

Twelve-year-old Jayden Francis' fondest memory of Navdeep was that of his booming voice filling the bus during their trip in Malaysia last week.

Jayden said: "I was sitting at the back of the bus, but I could hear him cracking jokes and laughing throughout the trip.

"He was a very joyful and happy person."

Navdeep's jokes will also be missed by Tristan Wing, 12.

Tristan said: "His jokes never failed to lift our spirits.

"His soft and deep laughter was infectious and would cheer us up when we were feeling tired or sad."

As for Ashley Lim, 11, Navdeep's death meant more than just the loss of a schoolmate.

She had regarded him as a big brother because he was older than her.

She said: "When I was bored, I'd talk to him about nonsense and he'd be my listening ear.

"He also helped me whenever I had trouble with my maths homework.

"I don't have an older brother so I treated him as one."

On Saturday, Navdeep's elder sister posted on Twitter that she was praying for a miracle.

Navdeep's father died two years ago and his sister wondered how her mother would handle the news if Navdeep did not survive, The Straits Times reported.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday that Navdeep's and Mr Ghazi's next-of-kin have been informed of their deaths and have asked for privacy while they grieve.

MOE said: "Their remains will return to Singapore upon completion of further forensic tests. This is expected to take some time.

"We will continue to provide support to the families during this difficult time."

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'A great teacher in and out of school'

He was a defender and a "fierce" player who gave his all when he played.

Hockey was Mr Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed's passion.

Just two weeks ago, the Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) teacher had played for the Singapore Recreation Club (SRC) in a National Hockey League match against the Hollandse Club.

His team won 3-2, a victory SRC's hockey team manager, Mr Lawrence Lee, 45, remembers fondly.

Sadly, it was the last match Mr Ghazi would ever play for his team.

Describing Mr Ghazi as one of his team's key players, Mr Lee said that in the match two weeks ago, his team had gone to Sengkang Hockey Stadium with only 11 players while their opponent had 16.

He said: "This meant that while they could rotate their players, we had none to spare. We fought hard and won.

"Ghazi did many diving tackles. He was a fierce player and all of us are shocked that he's gone."

Agreeing, team captain K. Thanaraj, 43, who is also a teacher, told The New Paper that he was a close friend of both Mr Ghazi and his wife, teacher Khalidal Huda Sukaimi. The couple have three children - two boys and a girl.

He first learnt of the tragedy when she messaged their WhatsApp group last Friday about her husband's disappearance.

"I was hoping and praying that he was still alive, but all hopes were dashed when I found out about his death. All of us are now trying to comfort her," he said.

Singapore Hockey Federation president Mathavan Devadas said Mr Ghazi was a national trainee in the 1990s.

He added: "His death is a sad loss to the local hockey community."

'OLDER BROTHER'

Mr Ghazi also used to play for the police hockey team. Former teammate Farhan Suhaili, 28, said he was like an older brother to the others.

The civil servant said: "He was a great teacher even when he was out of school. I would seen him guiding his students during school hockey matches."

Teacher Mohamed Fahmee, 37, added: "He was a great sportsman who was helpful and humble. I went numb when the report came in (about his death)."

At TKPS yesterday, many people turned up to pay their respects.

A blue jersey with Mr Ghazi's name was laid out on a table, surrounded by notes with condolence messages.

Engineer Ahmad Faisal, 41, whose third child is a Primary 6 pupil at TKPS, said: "Mr Ghazi was close to his pupils. But at the same time, he was a firm teacher who made sure that things were run smoothly."

Former members of the TKPS' hockey team also spoke movingly about him.

Thet Naing Tun, 17, who is now in Secondary 3, said he burst into tears over the news.

He said: "At first, I was not interested in hockey but he introduced the sport to me. I started to enjoy playing hockey and even made it to the school team."

Another former pupil, Sean Tan, 16, said: "Mr Ghazi was one of the best teachers I had. He did not see us as children but as young adults."

IDENTITIES CONFIRMED THROUGH FINGERPRINTS

The identities of the two missing Singaporeans - Mr Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed, 35, and Navdeep Singh Jaryal Raj Kumar, 13 - were confirmed through their personal belongings and fingerprinting.

According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Sabah authorities confirmed their identities after receiving their fingerprint records provided by the Singapore Police Force.

With the latest confirmation, 10 Singaporeans - seven pupils and two teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS), and an adventure guide who accompanied them - have died in the disaster, which killed 18 people.

"The remains of Ghazi and Navdeep are still undergoing DNA testing, and will be returned to their families once the DNA results are confirmed," said MOE.

In a Facebook post at around 4pm yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was "relieved yet saddened" that the remains had been identified.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time," he wrote.

Mr Lee also thanked the Malaysian government, Sabah officials, the mountain guides and many other Sabahans for their "extraordinary and deeply appreciated efforts" in helping the victims.

Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said in a Facebook post yesterday: "We know now that Navdeep and Ghazi are at peace.

"I talked with their families... and it was so clear that Ghazi and Navdeep have inspired so much love and brought so much joy to those around them. We all grieve with their families."

ngodwin@sph.com.sg 

This article was first published on June 11, 2015.
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