Memories of Sungai Kerian ferry capsize tragedy still fresh
14 Sep 2022 09:31am
The bridge connecting Parit Buntar with Bandar Baharu was completed in 1973 after the ferry tragedy sank on 13 September 1972 at Sungai Kerian. - Bernama Photo
The incident that killed 17 Sekolah Rendah Methodist Parit Buntar students, eight Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Kerian students and two civilians seems like it just happened yesterday which was a dark event in the nation’s history.
A survivor, Lai Joo Koi, 65 said in the incident, his older brother Lai Joo Boo, 67, was outside of the ferry and shouted at him to get off the bus (which was on the ferry) immediately and to swim to the bank to save himself.
"He screamed very loudly and luckily he was a good swimmer and helped me get to the river bank. The incident happened in a flash and the ferry tilted and capsized.
"The current was so strong. We all panicked on the bus. There were classmates who could not save themselves.
"Although I was in second grade at the time, I still remember the tragedy as it has always stayed in my mind," the health product salesman told Bernama.
He said the incident brought the siblings closer together and was often relayed to the next generation and remembered as a shocking event in their family's lives.
Meanwhile, A. Perumal, 73, the son of S. Annamalai (the man who helmed the ferry) said his father's passing is always remembered and the story of his bravery in helping to save seven students regardless of race and religion, passed down from one generation to another.
"I would be lying if I said I was not deeply saddened by the incident. I was 23 and already working. Someone informed me that my father had died saving others.
"I was moved by the fact that many people donated, including a businessman who contributed money to us every month in memory of my father's service and sacrifice," he said when met at the tragedy memorial site at Taman Pinggiran Sungai Kerian, today.
In the heart-wrenching tragedy, Annamalai plucked up all his courage to rescue a number of victims including school students. It had rained so heavily that the strong current of the river caused the ferry's steel cables between the two banks to snap.
The ferry service that connected Parit Buntar to Bandar Baharu was stopped immediately after the tragedy.
Perumal said each time he passed through the area, he would remember the tragedy and hoped that the current and future generations would not forget the sacrifice of his father who saved lives in the incident.
Also at the location today was Tan Kooi Se, 68, who lost her younger brother Tan Kok Hock who was on his way to school at the time of the incident.
"I was in Penang with my grandparents. My younger and elder brothers were here with our father. It was raining heavily at that time, but my younger brother insisted on going to school and the van took him to the jetty.
"We were later informed that the ferry had capsized and my brother was in it. Another elder brother, Tan Kok Pheng, now 70, escaped the tragedy because he got to the jetty early on his bicycle while my younger brother was on the second trip," she recalled tearfully.
Now known as Sabariah Tan Abdullah, Kooi Se said the incident was painful to remember and her family mourned for a long time and each year, tried to accept it as fate.
Meanwhile, Kerian District Council chief, Helmi Yusof, when met said that after the construction of the memorial at the site of the incident, said the council planned to build a gallery next year that would display information for the public and tourists on the tragedy.
Among other things, the effort will remind future generations of the tragedy but it requires an archive, data and photos from the public and certain parties to be used as exhibition material when it opens later. - BERNAMA
