Fatimah (third right) is seen comforting David’s mother Teresa Hamlin before sending the family off for their flight. Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING: The family members of missing soldier Corporal David Edmund Rapi from Dalat have flown to the Peninsular today with their flight expenditure fully borne by the Sarawak government.
David’s father Edmund Rapi Idal, mother Teresa Hamline Neh, elder brother Morni and younger sister Nur Lina Aisyah departed from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur at 10.15am before boarding a connecting flight to Alor Setar, Kedah at 2.30pm.
In Alor Setar, the family will stay at the rest house of an army camp there where they will seek more answers to the disappearance of David, 39, and fellow Sarawakian soldier Lance Corporal Moses Logers, 25, who were reported missing while taking part in ‘Ops Pejarak’ in Pulau Perak in Kedah on July 19.
Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and State Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPN) director Datuk Dr Chai Khin Chung sent off the family at the Kuching International Airport this morning.
In a press conference prior to the flight, Fatimah said she on behalf of the family thanked Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for agreeing to assist them.
She also expressed gratitude to acting State Secretary Datu Jaul Samion and UKPN led by Chai for assisting with the travel arrangements for the family.
“We must also thank former army general Leftenan Jeneral (retired) Datuk Stephen Mundaw for helping to communicate with Ministry of Defence (MinDef) to facilitate this trip.
“From what Morni, Corporal David’s brother told me, the family were adamant in traveling there to collect all of his personal belongings. They will return to Sarawak on Aug 17,” she said.
The two missing soldiers were not present during a roll call on the night of July 19. All their belongings were left behind except for their smartphones.
Fatimah explained that Moses’ family are not joining the trip as they had already traveled to Pulau Perak on their own initiative not long after Moses was reported missing.
“Maybe they had a bad experience during their last trip. It is now 26 days now since their (soldiers) disappearance and we hope that the authorities will continue with the search operations for them.
Meanwhile, Morni thanked the Sarawak government for assisting their family and they prayed that their trip will be smooth and fruitful.
He said his family was still not satisfied with the explanations given and lack of communication by the authorities especially on the search and rescue efforts.
“At one time, they said the operation was halted until new leads are found. But a few days later, they said the operation was still ongoing.
“So, which is which now? That’s what we hope we can find out during our trip there as we also seek to speak to the relevant officers,” said Morni.