Singapore rugby team pay respects to Sabah quake victims at TKPS

Kerene Ng
Athletes from the Singapore national rugby team lining up to pen their messages of condolence to the victims of the Sabah quake tragedy.

Athletes from the Singapore national rugby team visited Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) on 8 June — a National Day of Remembrance in Singapore — to pay respects to the victims of the Sabah quake.

Some 24 athletes from the men and women’s team brought flowers to place at the tribute site set up in the school. They also penned down their messages of condolence, and observed a minute of silence for the victims of the tragedy.

Athletes from the Singapore national rugby team observing a minute of silence for the victims of the Sabah quake tragedy at Tanjong Katong Primary School on 8 June 2015.
Athletes from the Singapore national rugby team observing a minute of silence for the victims of the Sabah quake tragedy at Tanjong Katong Primary School on 8 June 2015.

Speaking to the media, Daniel Marc Chow, captain of the men’s team said, “We are here today to show our respect to the victims who lost their lives in the tragedy event in Sabah.”

When asked how he felt when he first heard the news, Chow said that the team was focused on the ongoing SEA Games, which took place over the weekend, and did not the follow news of the incident.

“When they confirmed the deaths of these people, I think it was really, really sad,” he said.

"Our hearts go out to them," Chow said as a message to the parents of the victims. "Stay strong."

Daniel Marc Chow, captain of the Singapore national men's rugby team, reading the messages of condolence at Tanjong Katong Primary School on 8 June 2015.
Daniel Marc Chow, captain of the Singapore national men's rugby team, reading the messages of condolence at Tanjong Katong Primary School on 8 June 2015.

At around 10:30 in the morning when Yahoo Singapore was there, a steady stream of people were streaming in to TKPS to pay respects to the victims of the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Sabah on 5 June.

The mood at TKPS was sombre as many penned down their condolences to those affected by the tragedy.

On Mount Kinabalu, the search is still ongoing for the two missing Singaporeans, Navdeep Singh Jaryal S/O Raj Kumar, and teacher Mohammad Ghazi Bin Mohamed, who are both from TKPS.