The Star 28 Nov 12;
KLUANG: An elderly man was trampled to death by a herd of elephants during a trip to his oil palm plantation.
Singaporean Toh Sam Yit, 79, who has a Permanent Resident status, and his grandson went to the area from their house in Taman Lian Seng, Kahang, on Monday when the tragedy occurred.
According to the victim's eldest son, Toh Sin Ming, 51, his father was supposed to have returned to Singapore to visit his granduncle.
“However, my father changed his mind and decided to take my 15-year-old son to the plantation in Kampung Orang Asli Punan near the Mersing border,” Sin Ming said.
Trampled to death
Rizalman Hammim New Straits Times 28 Nov 12;
JUMBO ATTACK: Senior citizen found with his head buried in the ground at plantation
KLUANG: A SENIOR citizen was killed on Monday after he was attacked by a elephant while checking on his oil palm trees at his plantation in Kampung Orang Asli Punan, Kahang near here.
In the 6.30pm incident, Toh Sam Yit or fondly known as Ah Kong, was found dead with head injuries by several villagers.
Kluang police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Majid Mohd Ali said the 79-year-old victim and his 15-year-old grandson had gone to the plantation to check on the oil palm trees.
"They arrived at about 4pm. The victim then told the grandson to wait for him at a hut before he went to check on the trees alone.
"The grandson became worried when the victim did not return after about an hour and immediately asked several villagers to help him find his grandfather.
"They found the victim about 100m from the hut," said Majid.
It is understood that the village, located at the Kluang-Mersing border, is a main pathway for elephants, which often cause damage to the villagers' plantations.
One the villagers who found the victim, Zamri Boy, 23, said the body was found at about 7.30pm after he and four others looked for him.
"We started our search near the hut. Ah Kong's head was buried in the ground when we found him. We believe he was trampled by the elephant," said Zamri, adding that Ah Kong would often sleep at the hut to guard the oil palm trees from being damaged by elephants.
He said the Wildlife and National Parks Department had been informed of the problem but so far no action had been taken.
Department officials could be not contacted for comments.
Association chairman: Territorial elephants killed man
The Star 30 Nov 12;
JOHOR BARU: The place where an elderly Singaporean man was trampled to death by a herd of elephants was in the animal's migration route.
Malaysian Nature Society Johor chairman Vincent Chow said it was unfortunate that a shy animal had killed a human being.
Singaporean Toh Sam Yit, 79, who has permanent resident status here, had gone to his oil palm plantation on Monday when tragedy struck.
“The herd might have viewed the victim as a threat to their calves which may explain the attack.”
Chow also said elephants entered the Endau-Rompin National Park through that route from November to December to seek shelter and food during the monsoon season.
