Two Lost Native Schoolgirls Found Alive after 47 Days in the Malaysian Jungle

UNITED SIKHSOctober 13, 2015

UNITED SIKHS helps the families who continue to search for one of the seven missing children as remains are found of others, one of whose identity is being confirmed.

On August 27, seven children of the indigenous Orang Asli community went missing in the jungles off Gua Musang Kelantan as they ran away from school in Malaysia. As of October 10, two of the children have been found alive, and three have been found dead. The remains of another body have been found but are unconfirmed. Hundreds of community members, police officers, and soldiers continue to search for the remaining lost child. Upon hearing of the missing children, UNITED SIKHS Malaysia and the Malaysia FoodBank Organisation channelled approximately $2,500 to supply food to the families of the children and the local trackers who continue to search for the last child – 8 year old Hakail Yacoob.

UNITED SIKHS volunteers in Malaysia remain in close contact with the families of the children, monitoring the ongoing search process for the last child, who is one of the youngest of the group of seven.

Almost two months ago, Noreen Yacoob, Mirsudiar Aluj, Sasa Sobrie, Linda Rosli, Juvina David, Haikal Yacoob, and Ika Ayel disappeared in the jungle, hiding from their school teachers who scolded them for playing in a river which was forbidden to them. While details about what occurred between then and now are slow to emerge, the information that has been revealed is harrowing. The children, ranging from 6 to 11 years old, were lost in the jungle for over 47 days, likely eating grass and wild fruits to survive. Two of the surviving children say they witnessed the death of their classmate Ika Ayel after attempting to care for her as she clung to life.

Noreen Yacoob and Mirsudiar Aluj were found together and severely malnourished on Friday, October 9. UNITED SIKHS volunteer Charanjeet Kaur, who was present the day the girls were found, stated, “I am a mother. And no mother can stand to see the sight of those children. It was as if I had lost and found my own child.”

The Orang Asli community of Malaysia is an indigenous community that is routinely subject to processes that endanger their rights and way of life, such as deforestation and palm. UNITED SIKHS is committed to helping this community search for the remaining missing child, and to providing aid and assistance to the families of the children and the local community members who continue the search. It is with your support that we are able to reach out to communities such as the Orang Asli, and provide assistance in emergency situations, recognizing the human race as one.