2-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) A kindhearted woman in Sabah lost her life after being swept away by raging floodwaters in the early hours of July 1st. The woman, identified as 37-year-old Monica Ting Siew Kwong, had been delivering food aid to flood victims in the Donggongon area when the incident occurred, leaving the local community in shock and mourning.
According to Penampang District Police Chief Sammy Newton, Ting and her husband encountered a flooded road on their way home after distributing the much-needed supplies to those affected by the recent deluge in Sabah. In an attempt to navigate through the treacherous waters, Ting slipped and was swiftly carried away by the powerful currents, despite her husband’s desperate efforts to grab her hand and prevent her from being swept away.
A frantic search ensued, with Ting’s body eventually being discovered lifeless, entangled in a tree approximately 500 meters away from the location where she was last seen, six harrowing hours after her disappearance. Personnel from the Civil Defence Force located her remains after spotting her shoes in the vicinity.
The chief of police revealed that Ting and her husband, 39-year-old Hii Ding Wei, originally hailed from Sarawak but had called Kota Kinabalu their home for the past decade, operating a coffee shop in the city. Their compassionate act of delivering aid to flood victims, however, took a heartbreaking turn, leaving the community mourning the loss of a selfless individual.
Hii Ding Wei, Ting’s husband, recounted the harrowing ordeal, stating that they had encountered a flooded road near the Sigah roundabout of the Jalan Penampang Bypass while returning home after distributing the aid. Unable to navigate their vehicle through the submerged road, the couple made the fateful decision to disembark and attempt to wade through the floodwaters, intending to reach the opposite side and await assistance from relatives.
Tragically, as they ventured into the raging currents, Ting lost her footing and was swiftly swept away, despite her husband’s frantic efforts to maintain his grip on her hand. The force of the water proved too powerful, separating the couple and leaving Hii helpless as he watched his wife disappear into the turbulent waters.
Chief Newton confirmed that Ting’s body has been transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu for further examination, as the community grapples with the devastating loss of a compassionate individual who selflessly dedicated her efforts to assisting those in need.
