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WHY WERE NORTH KOREANS WORKING THERE?
Sarawak is the only Malaysian state which is permitted to hire workers from North Korea.
According to The Guardian, Wan Junaidi said that the men had been working legally under a special agreement between Pyongyang and the Sarawak government.
Malay Mail Online
North Koreans hired as Malaysians shun dangerous jobs, says deputy minister
The use of North Korean labourers in coal mines in Sarawak has come under scrutiny with The Guardian reporting that Malaysia allows these foreign workers into the country because Malaysians dare not work underground.
Defending the move, deputy home minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that the North Koreans are particularly good workers with their dedication, strength and bravery.
The spotlight on North Koreans in Sarawak’s coal-mining industry came about after one of them was among four men killed in a mine explosion which occured on Saturday.
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“When it comes to industries such as coal mines, the jobs are very dangerous and tough.
“No local or Sarawakian will dare to take up such jobs – that is why we need foreign workers. In the coal-mining sector, only Britain, China and North Korea have highly-skilled workers,” Wan Junaidi was quoted as saying by the UK daily.
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Updated:
NST
Coal mine blast: Death toll rises to 4
By ADIB POVERA – 25 November 2014 @ 9:17 PM
KUCHING: Another foreign worker at the Silantek coal mine in Sri Aman, which exploded on Saturday, died to his injuries today.
The victim an Indonesian identified as 27-year-old Acmad Zidin died at the Sarawak General Hospital here at 7pm.
His death was confirmed by State Health Department director Datuk Dr Zulkifli Jantan.
“The victim succumbed to bodily injuries and brain complication,” he said in a short text message.
http://www.nst.com.my/node/56373?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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Three killed, 27 injured in Sarawak coal mine explosion
Star
Sunday November 23, 2014 MYT 5:00:51 PM
11 Sarawak coal miners still in critical condition
KUCHING: Eleven victims of the coal mine explosion which left three workers dead in Pantu, Sri Aman Division Saturday, are still warded in the intensive care unit of the Sarawak General Hospital (HUS) here.
According to HUS staff, their condition was critical but stable and they were suffering breathing difficulties.
Another seven victims are recuperating in a regular ward.
Three other victims have been warded at the Sri Aman Hospital and five more were in two private hospitals here.
The workers killed in the 9am explosion at Selantik were identified as Indonesian national Kardianto, 38, North Korean Pang Chung Hyok, 29, and Myanmar Tun Tun Win, 29.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/11/23/coal-mine-11-critical/
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Malay Mail Online
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The Silantek Quarry is in Pantu Sri Aman, about 130km from Kuching, employs 119 foreigners.
The Fire and Rescue Department was informed by the mine supervisor that the mining company employed 119 workers comprising Chinese nationals (15), Myanmar (29), Indonesians (19), Bangladeshis (10) and North Koreans (46).
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The Press descends on Silantek Quarry like vultures over a dying victim!
Sunday November 23, 2014 MYT 10:27:02 AM
Mine has no signage and is difficult to find
Soot and ashes: Fire and Rescue Department forensic personnel inspecting the coal mine area after the explosion. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star
KUCHING: The scene of the mine explosion was a picture of blackness.
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I was part of a small team of photographers and reporters who arrived at the mine at about 4.15pm. The journey had taken longer than expected because the mine was hard to find.
We had made a 130km journey from Kuching, taken a right turn into an unmarked road and travelled through stretches of bumpy gravel tracks.
There are no signboards indicating where the mine is. A gate before the entrance only carries a sign which reads “private property”.
When my colleague Zulazhar Sheblee and I got there, we had to convince a trio of foreigners to let us in. After they finally did, we drove past a coal stockyard, then uphill and turned left into what was essentially a flow of mud.
We were relieved when we saw Fire and Rescue trucks. It became clear that this was not a large mine. The stockyard had just a few small mounds of coal.
Read the rest:
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KUCHING: A gas explosion in a coal mine in Selantik, Pantu, Sri Aman, about 130km here, killed three foreign workers and injured 24 others.
The dead were a North Korean, an Indonesian and a Myanmar national. Details of their identities were not revealed.
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Updated:
Three killed, 27 injured in Sarawak coal mine explosion
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LAGI GAMBAR INSIDEN LETUPAN LOMBONG ARANG BATU DI SILANTEK KUARI, PANTU SRI AMAN, SARAWAK 11.32 PAGI TADI #BOMBA
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Photos · View all
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NST
Coal mine explosion kills three, 11 injured
By Dennis Wong – 22 November 2014 @ 1:08 PM
SRI AMAN: A coal mine explosion in Silantek Quarry killed three and leaving 11 injured.
The three foreign nationals died at the explosion are identified as a Korean, Myanmar and Indonesian.
Initial investigation shows that the explosion took place 150 meters underground and no one was trapped during the incident.
http://www.nst.com.my/node/55342
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Star
Saturday November 22, 2014 MYT 1:57:30 PM
Three killed, 11 injured in Sarawak coal mine explosion
KUCHING: Three people were killed and nearly a dozen were injured in a coal mine explosion in Pantu, Sarawak on Saturday morning according to early reports from the scene.
The incident occurred just before noon, said a brief report from the General Operations Force, which added the information came from the Sri Aman police station.
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weehingthong 