SINGAPORE — Close to S$1 million has been raised for the families of the victims of the June 5 Sabah earthquake, and the trainers and guides in Sabah who died or had their livelihoods affected by it, with the money to be distributed progressively over the next few months, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Temasek Foundation said in a joint press release today (Dec 9).

The Sabah Earthquake Fund was set up shortly after the magnitude 6 quake struck Mount Kinabalu, killing 18 people, including seven pupils and two teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS), and a Singaporean mountain guide.

A committee comprising representatives appointed by the MOE and Temasek Foundation had managed the allocation of donations, totalling S$982,000, based on the beneficiaries specified by the donors. Donations with no specified beneficiaries were allocated by the committee based on the needs of the families.

Temasek matched all donations from its staff dollar-for-dollar, while staff volunteers helped to structure these donations into insurance policies for dependents of the families of the late TKPS teachers Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed and Terrence Loo, as well as adventure guide Muhammad Daanish Amran, who accompanied the students. These policies will provide yearly payouts, with a lump-sum payout upon maturity for their future needs.

From the fund, S$100,000 will be disbursed equally among the trainers from mountaineering company Mountain Torq and mountain guides from Sabah. Mountain Torq, the operator of the Via Ferrata on Mount Kinabalu, will get S$50,000 to support its trainers and staff. Recipients include the five trainers (including the late Valerian Joannes and Ricky Masirin through their families) who accompanied the TKPS students on Mount Kinabalu.

The remaining S$50,000 will be channelled into the Mount Kinabalu Earthquake Disaster Fund launched by Sabah Parks. The fund supports Sabah guides whose livelihoods have been affected by the earthquake, and those who helped in the evacuation of the TKPS students in the aftermath of the earthquake. The cheque will be presented to Sabah Parks and Mountain Torq at a reception in Sabah early next year.

The Sabah mountain guides today said the donations would come in handy, given the sharp drop in the number of climbers since the disaster.

Mount Kinabalu partially reopened in September, with access limited to Laban Rata — the last stop for climbs to the summit — because the damaged trails to the summit had not been repaired. The trail was fully reopened at the start of this month.

Mountain guide Joe Endam, 28, said he has led only about 10 trips since September, and any extra money will help him with the bills. “It’s very good, even if it’s just a bit of money, because I still have to take care of my family and pay the bills.” 

Mountain guide Doinois S, 55, said he started farming because of the drop in visitors and now makes about RM200 (S$66) to RM300 a month. “I have to do farming because it’s hard to find a job, unless you go into the city, but it’s so far away from home.”

Ms Quek I-Gek, marketing director of Mountain Torq, said the families of the two trainers who were killed will be given a “bigger portion” of the donations. The rest will go to 24 staff — comprising support staff and Mountain Torq trainers — who were involved in the search and rescue operations during the earthquake.