MIRI: Naim Holdings Bhd, a major construction company in Sarawak, has started an education fund for children who lost their parents in the Tatau express boat tragedy last Monday.
The company had also provided monetary assistance to the next-of-kin of the 13 fatalities.

The assistance, totalling RM50,000, was presented to the families by Naim senior manager for public relations, sales and marketing Alaric Soh at the Tatau District Office two days ago.

Soh said RM20,000 would be given to Desmond Peter, 10, who lost his father, mother and sister in the tragedy at Sungai Anap.

Nickonimus Imang Jau, seven, and Noria Lina Wilfred, 14, who lost their fathers, were each given RM10,000.

Soh said the money will be deposited into an account for education purposes.

“We will increase the amount if it is not enough to meet their educational needs. Naim will also offer these children scholarships if they excelled in their studies and obtained good results in their public exams,’’ he said.

Soh said the rest of the money would be distributed to the next-of-kin of the other victims.

Desmond was accompanied by his grandfather Nyaweng Andom to the ceremony.
The tragedy happened after the express boat pilot overtook a timber barge at a sharp river bend, and ended up getting entangled with a loose rope before ramming into the barge and overturning.