A single missing-persons case has exploded into a nationwide scandal, encompassing the cases of nearly 300 other missing persons.

The case centres around the actions of a single police sergeant, accused of having faked evidence in order to close cases, which, at the very least, may have critically impacted families' ability to help the victims.

No contact

As of Aug. 26, four bodies were found on Jeju Island in the span of three days between Aug. 22 and Aug. 24.

Of the four deceased, it is the case of 37-year-old Jang Mi-Ran that has invited the most furore.

Jang was initially reported missing in May 2026, and the police officer in charge of her case, an officer surnamed Bu, had told her family that he had spoken to her and that she did not want her whereabouts disclosed, as reported by The Korea Herald, via the Asia News Network.

However, Bu appears to have lied about speaking to Jang, and that there was no record of any communication between Bu and Jang.

Instead, Bu had closed the case without confirming Jang’s safety, forcing the family to refile the case in July, by which time much of the digital evidence related to her disappearance, such as CCTV footage, would have been deleted, making finding her much more difficult.

He is alleged to have done the same for another case involving a man in his 60s, whose body was found on Aug. 22.

False records

It is feared that all 298 missing-persons reports that Bu had handled and closed were affected in some way, and South Korean police are now investigating all of them.

The case has prompted the police to investigate a vast number of missing person’s case, with Yon Hap reporting that in Busan, over a two and a half year period starting in 2024, over 99 per cent of the over 25,600 missing persons cases were closed.

He is now facing charges of dereliction of duty, obstructing official duties, and falsifying and using official electronic records.

Among the many concerns the case has thrown up is how Bu was able to close such cases without any supervision.

All four officers in his chain of command at the Jeju Seobu Police Station, including the current and former chief of the station, the head of the detective division, and the leader of the missing-persons cases team, have been removed from active duty.

Breakdown in discipline

South Korea’s president Lee Jae Myung has had to react to the case, having since ordered the creation of a government body to oversee reforms to the police.

Korea Times quotes Lee as saying “the recent breakdown in police discipline and irresponsibility in public safety matters have become serious problems.”

Confidence in the police, the Times said, was already shaken by previous unrelated scandals, such as when a police officer whose son was accused of murder was found to have destroyed evidence related to the case.

Bafflement

Korea JoongAng Daily spoke to fellow police officers about the case, who were baffled by Bu’s actions.

They noted that closing the cases and lying in the manner he did would not have significantly alleviated Bu’s workload, nor would closing more missing persons cases improve his performance record.

One officer said that Bu wasn’t even conducting the searches for missing persons himself, and his actions had “effectively interfered with the search efforts of other officers.”

Bu has told investigators that he had actually contacted the missing persons, and denies wrongdoing.

Rumours and speculation

Jeju is a popular holiday and tourist destination, attracting both domestic and foreign visitors.

But since the news of the deaths and disappearances has reached virality, many worrying stories have emerged.

Some tell of locals advising visitors to travel in groups, and to take cabs or public transport to destinations rather than walking.

Others speculated wildly more nefarious, unsubstantiated, possibilities.

Meanwhile, sources such as SBS News, quoting the head of the Pyo Chang Won Crime Science Research Institute, said that there were no signs of a physical struggle or of a third party entering or leaving the scene of Jang’s death, leaving an equally tragic but less sensational explanation for her death and disappearance: that she had taken her own life.

However, he said one should not jump to conclusions hastily, and criticised the police for their actions.

"If the police had continued the search without lying at the outset that they had made contact, early discovery would have been fully possible, even if survival could not be guaranteed."

Five days after going missing, a Chinese international student was found dead in South Korea, in the residence of a man, another Chinese national.

The man was the first person who had reported her missing, telling the authorities he was her boyfriend,  The Korea Herald reported.

Following her death, the local police arrested the man on suspicion of murder.

Lost contact with family

The student, a woman in her 20s, was enrolled in a rehabilitation therapy programme at a graduate school in Gyeongsan city, The Korea Herald reported.

She had gone home to China to spend the holidays with her family, then returned to Gyeongsan on Aug. 14 to attend her graduation ceremony.

The night of the ceremony was the last time her family heard from her.

The next day, she was reported missing by the suspect.

He told the police she had said she was heading to Daegu, a nearby city, then stopped responding to messages.

On Aug. 19, the woman was found dead in the suspect's house in Gyeongsan.

Investigations

Analysing the woman's phone location data, the police found that she had visited two places the day she disappeared: a convenience store near her graduate school, and the vicinity of a railway station in Daegu.

After the police questioned the suspect, they detected inconsistencies in his account.

This prompted them to arrest him on Aug. 26, and start investigating the case as a potential homicide.

People close to the victim said that she and the suspect were acquaintances, according to The Korea Times.

The police will be conducting an autopsy on the woman's body to determine the exact cause and time of death.

The Chinese consulate responds

The Chinese Consulate General in Busan, South Korea, has called for severe punishment of the suspect, Korea JoongAng Daily cited Xinhua News Agency reporting.

The consulate released a statement on Aug. 26 about the man's arrest, and called on the Korean police to conduct a thorough investigation and severely punish the perpetrator.

It also said it would provide consular assistance to the victim's family in handling matters following her death.

A customer at a braised noodle stall in Bukit Purmei accidentally paid S$650 for a bowl that cost S$6.50.

The stall owner had no way of tracing the customer, and only managed to return the money nearly a month later when the man came back to the stall, Shin Min Daily News reported.

He only found out when doing the accounts

The stall is Kai Fa Signature Lor Mee at a coffee shop at Block 109 Bukit Purmei Road.

Its owner, Vincent See, 48, said the customer had come by for some noodles, scanned to pay, and left.

It was only when he was going through the accounts later that day that he noticed a payment of S$650 had come into the stall's account.

A bowl of lor mee costs S$6.50, so he guessed the customer had paid the wrong amount.

But there had been plenty of customers that day and he could not recall which one it was.

He went to the bank about it

Sia approached the bank to flag the overpayment, so that if the customer enquired about it, the bank would know See was trying to return it.

He waited three to four weeks before the customer finally turned up again.

It turned out the man had gone overseas, and only realised S$650 was missing from his account when he checked it recently.

Suspecting he had paid the wrong amount, he went back to the coffee shop to ask See about it.

Once See had checked his details, he returned S$643.50, the balance after deducting the cost of the noodles.

A new Singapore Chinese Heritage Gallery (SCHG) will open at the Singapore Conference Hall in 2031, showcasing the history, heritage, and contributions of Singapore's Chinese community as part of the country's shared multicultural heritage.

It will be established by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), with support from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Heritage Board.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong first announced the plans during his Mandarin speech at the National Day Rally on Aug. 23.

Gallery to open in 2031

In a media release on Aug. 25, SCCC said engagements with key community leaders, clan associations, docents, youths, and students since mid-2025 showed support for a dedicated gallery offering a broad overview of the history, heritage and contributions of Singapore's Chinese community.

Feedback highlighted three key areas: presenting a balanced and historically grounded account, making the content inclusive and relatable to different audiences, as well as creating engaging experiences.

The gallery will trace the Chinese Singaporean experience from before the 14th century to the present day through six themes:

1. Ports and Trade in Early Singapore (Pre-14th century to early 1800s)
2. Chinese Settlements in British Empire (1819 to 1870s)
3. Cultural Convergence: Institutions and Networks (1900s to 1942)
4. Tides of Change (1877 to 1965)
5. The Chinese Community in Post-Independence Singapore (1965 to 1980s)
6. Chinese Singaporean in a Global City (1980s to present day)

SCCC said the gallery will complement existing heritage institutions and exhibitions, including its SINGAPO 人 Permanent Exhibition, which explores the evolution of contemporary Chinese culture and identity in Singapore.

The centre will also be engaging other cultural institutions and key stakeholder groups to gather diverse perspectives and anchor the gallery in the country's multi-cultural context.

Public invited to shape gallery

SCCC will be launching a travelling exhibition, titled Have Your Say: Co-conceptualising the Singapore Chinese Heritage Gallery, to gather public feedback on the gallery's content and presentation.

The exhibition will be held at Chinatown Point from Aug. 25 to Sep. 11, followed by One Punggol from Sep. 12 to Oct. 2.

It will subsequently travel to other venues, including shopping malls, public libraries, community hubs, schools, and community centres.

Ng Siew Quan, the chairman of SCCC, said the gallery would be an "important milestone project" for the local Chinese community, and help strengthen a sense of belonging among Chinese Singaporeans, while highlighting values such as resilience, diligence, patriotism, and communal spirit.

Historian and SCHG Advisory Panel member Kua Bak Lim said the gallery could serve as a "central unifying node", bringing together stories and materials from different museums, clans, and community organisations.

SCCC Youth Force member Koh Horn Ray also said the gallery could also provide youths with a relevant and accessible way to learn about their heritage and understand how the Chinese Singaporean identity has evolved over time.

Air India is seeking US$1.5 billion (S$1.9 billion) in fresh equity from owners Singapore Airlines and Tata just months after recording a loss of more than US$2 billion (S$2.5 billion) for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year, Reuters reported.

The carrier's record loss weighed down on SIA's own profits, with Singapore's national carrier posting nearly S$1 billion in losses less than two years after its 25 per cent investment in the airline.

No decision made on request: Reuters

"Air India wants the funds immediately, though the infusion is likely to happen in tranches. Singapore Airline's would need to contribute to its share of the proposed infusion to go through," one source told Reuters.

Discussions are ongoing and there has been no decision on the request.

An unnamed SIA executive has called it an "annus horribilis (a horrible year)" for Air India, the Financial Times previously reported.

They added: "Air India is trying to undergo a major transformation — the likes of which have probably never been seen in the airline industry — while also dealing with all these other issues."

Reports also surfaced in April about Air India's request for capital injection from its major shareholders.

Background

SIA was first enlisted by India's largest conglomerate Tata Sons, who hold the other 75 per cent in Air India, as an unofficial adviser when the latter began exploring taking over Air India in 2021.

SIA jumped onboard, eventually owning 25 per cent of the Indian carrier.

SIA's management reportedly contributed S$822 million of capital to Air India in the early days, then another S$167 million in March 2025.

Multiple incidents have since affected the carrier, contributing to an overall loss of S$945 million from March 2025 to March 2026.

In June 2025, an Air India flight bound for London crashed after take-off, killing 242 people.

SIA has since stepped up its operational involvement in India's national carrier.

Convicted sex offender, 27-year-old Amos Yee, was given four new charges in court on Aug. 26 for offences related to online contents he allegedly published.

An earlier report mentioned that an Aug. 25 police news release stated that the contents were found to be "alarming and racially divisive".

Several reports were made to the police between April and July 2026, and police investigations were subsequently conducted.

Yee previously said in an Aug. 25 TikTok video that his bail could be revoked as he had committed new crimes on top of his existing charges.

Yee's current bail was revoked, but was offered a S$15,000 bail.

His mother posted the bail, and Yee left the State Courts at about 11am.

When asked by media whether he was concerned about getting separated from his family, he replied that he think they are used to it as he has been arrested seven to eight times, Yee said.

Racially divisive posts

On Apr. 7 and Apr. 11, Yee was found to have made two posts on his blog in which he stated that the Malay-Muslim and Indian communities in Singapore were heavily discriminated against by the Chinese majority.

He also made statements about the Singapore government's treatment of these communities and incited protests against the government.

Yee repeated these sentiments in a video on May. 27.

Indecent comments

In another post published on his blog on Jun. 30, Yee posited that children were capable of consenting to sexual acts.

He also advocated for the abolition of laws governing the age at which children can consent to such acts.

Previously in 2021, he had made three other videos in which he advocated sexual relationships involving children and the abolition of laws prohibiting child sexual abuse material.

Posts taken down

The police added that they have issued an OCHA Disabling Direction (DD) to take down the video on X on Aug. 18, which the platform has complied with.

For the remaining offensive content, Yee has been issued a Stop Communication Directions to remove the existing posts on his personal blog.

Yee is also set to plead guilty on Sep. 7 to NS enlistment offences.

He was previously charged in March with three offences related to his NS obligations.

Speaking to Mothership outside the State Courts on Apr. 23, Yee said he would "just treat it like a business trip" if sentenced to jail, describing it as "something [he] has to do to ignite a political movement".

A 33-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to two years and 10 months’ jail and three strokes of the cane after he discreetly filmed couples engaging in sexual acts in public areas and attempted to extort one of them.

Mohammad Sharulnaim Miswan pleaded guilty to three charges, including extortion, obstructing justice and wrongful confinement, and was sentenced on Aug. 25.

Two other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

The identities of the victims and incident locations cannot be disclosed as a gag order was imposed to protect the victims.

Rooftop garden

In court documents seen by Mothership, on Jan. 15, 2024, at about 1am, Sharulnaim passed by a 39-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman at an empty rooftop garden of a multi-storey carpark.

As he saw the man touching the woman, Sharulnaim proceeded to hide behind some plants as he suspected that they might engage in sexual acts.

The pair proceeded to engage in sexual intercourse and oral sex, and he took five videos of the occurrences.

Their faces were captured in some of the videos, and at one point Sharulnaim shifted to another position for a better view.

Clinic

On May 6, 2024, Sharulnaim approached the woman at a clinic.

She was there to take her son to the clinic and was waiting to see a doctor.

Sharulnaim introduced himself and asked if she was married.

He also asked if the boy was her son.

Since it was the woman’s turn at the clinic, she took her son to see the doctor.

While waiting to collect medication, Sharulnaim approached her again and said he possessed footage of her engaging in sexual intercourse on the rooftop.

He also showed her a screenshot of the video.

Sharulnaim got her to agree to meet him in his car, where he told her that he intended to post the video.

The woman pleaded with him not to post it and claimed her son had autism.

Sharulnaim dropped the woman and her son off and exchanged numbers with her.

They continued to communicate on settling the issue.

Sharulnaim claimed he intended to report the video to the police or make it go viral.

The woman offered S$300.

However, he refused, as the proposed amount was apparently too low.

Sharulnaim then told her that if she was charged with the offence shown in the video, she could face months in jail and a fine of up to S$5,000.

He then asked the woman to pay him S$2,000.

She replied that S$2,000 was too high and that she only had S$300.

Sharulnaim then asked her to pay S$1,500, but she replied that she did not have that amount and needed to borrow from others.

Aroused

Sharulnaim then told her that he was sexually aroused by watching her have sex.

He then repeatedly asked her to pay him S$1,000 and have sex with him.

She repeatedly refused his requests, despite him saying he would fetch her so they could have sex at a car park, and if she complied, he would delete the video immediately

Sharulnaim then told the woman to transfer him S$1,300 by May 7, 2024, or else he would report the video to the police or make it viral if she failed to do so.

On May 7, 2024, at about 8am, the woman informed the 39-year-old man that Sharulnaim had recorded the video of them having sex and asked him what to do.

He advised her to lodge a police report.

At about 12pm, the pair attempted to call Sharulnaim, but he did not answer.

At about 6:01pm, the woman lodged a police report.

On May 8, 2024, Sharulnaim texted the woman and asked if they could talk.

She did not reply him.

At about 12pm, Sharulnaim called the man and asked him how he wished to settle the matter.

He also informed the man that he had intended to report the video to the police on May 7, 2024, but did not do so as he wanted to speak to him first.

The man felt threatened.

He then told Sharulnaim he would pay S$1,000, as the woman only had S$300, and pleaded with him to leave her alone thereafter, as she had a young son and a mother to take care of.

The man also told Sharulnaim he would pay S$500 at the end of May and the remaining S$500 in June.

Sharulnaim rejected this and demanded that the pair pay him S$1,300 by the end of May.

He also told the man he would delete the video and not disturb them anymore once payment was made.

The man then told Sharulnaim that he and the woman would pay him by the end of May.

Later the same day, at about 8pm, Sharulnaim was arrested.

No payment was made to Sharulnaim.

Sharulnaim was later released on bail on May 10, 2024.

Supermarket

On Sep. 12, 2024, Sharulnaim approached the woman’s sister at a supermarket.

Her sister asked who he was, and Sharulnaim said the woman had reported him to the police and added that he possessed an explicit video of her.

The woman then saw Sharulnaim, but did not want to speak to him until he approached her.

He then asked her to inform the investigating officer that she no longer wished to pursue the matter so the police would stop investigating him.

To placate him, the woman told Sharulnaim that she would consider his request.

She had no intention of dropping the matter.

Sharulnaim also repeatedly asked when she would let him know whether she agreed to drop the case.

He also wanted to give the woman his new handphone number, but she did not want to take it down.

Sharulnaim then told her not to inform the investigating officer about this conversation.

She then asked him to leave, and he complied.

The woman’s sister then advised her to inform the officer about what had happened, and she did so.

Harass

On Oct. 9, 2024, at about 11am, the woman's sister was at the supermarket with her son when Sharulnaim approached her.

She told him that she was not interested in speaking to him.

Sharulnaim then asked her what the woman had told her about him and whether she had mentioned that he had asked her for money.

The woman's sister ignored him and left the supermarket.

Sharulnaim approached the woman's sister again when she, her son and the woman were waiting for the lift near the supermarket.

Sharulnaim said he learned that the case had not been dropped when he reported for bail, and he begged the woman to inform the investigating officer that she no longer wished to pursue the matter.

He asked for her forgiveness and to drop the case as his parents and wife knew about it, and he was the sole breadwinner.

Sharulnaim also claimed he wanted to commit suicide.

To placate him, the woman said she would think about it.

Sharulnaim also asked the woman and her sister to tell the investigating officer they were family, even though they were not, as his friend told him it might help drop the case.

Sharulnaim then told them that he had gifts for the woman and would help her financially, such as by paying for her household necessities, and he would stop approaching them if she agreed to drop the case.

He also asked the woman's sister to persuade the woman to drop the case.

The woman's sister replied that it was for her sister to decide, and they both left the area.

At about 4:14pm, the woman's sister lodged a police report as both she and her sister felt harassed by Sharulnaim.

Other couple

On Feb. 5. 2025, at about 9:30pm, Sharulnaim spotted another couple, a 27-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, engaging in sexual intercourse in a parked rental car at a multi-storey carpark.

At about 10:35pm, Sharulnaim took a picture of the couple having sex in the car’s rear seats.

He then knocked on the car’s window and gestured to them to step out of the car.

The man stepped out of the car.

Sharulnaim asked what they were doing and lied that he was a former police officer.

He then asked for their names, ages, addresses, and schools.

The man complied and answered him.

Sharulnaim then informed him that he had recorded a video of him and the woman engaging in sexual acts in the car and that the woman's face could be seen.

He then said he would lodge a police report and inform the car rental company, and that the man could be charged for his actions and that his parents would be disappointed in him.

The man was scared, given Sharulnaim’s claim that he was a former police officer.

The woman then stepped out of the car upon Sharulnaim’s request.

The pair then told Sharulnaim they had to leave, and they walked away.

He got into his car, drove it to the ground floor of the car park and cornered them with his car.

Sharulnaim then rolled down his window, insisted the man leave first, and said he would send the woman home.

The man complied, still in shock, and walked to the woman’s block to wait for her.

The woman repeatedly refused to enter Sharulnaim’s car, but eventually did so unwillingly.

He then locked the car’s doors and told her that he wanted to wait a while to make sure the man did not return.

After about five minutes, Sharulnaim started driving.

Sharulnaim then saw the woman’s WhatsApp profile picture and asked if that was her.

He complimented her, saying she was “f*cking pretty” and “f*cking hot” and then asked her why she was in a relationship with the man.

When Sharulnaim reached the woman’s block, he saw the man waiting for her.

He then rolled down his window and told the man that the woman would not be allowed to leave his car until he left the area.

He complied and left the premises.

However, Sharulnaim still did not let the woman leave his car, saying they should wait a while to make sure the man did not return.

He then drove the woman to the back of her block and told her not to be with the man because she was too pretty for him.

The woman attempted to open the car door but could not, as it was locked.

Sharulnaim eventually unlocked the car’s doors and allowed her to leave.

He also deleted the picture.

On Feb. 6, 2025, at about 5:45pm, the woman lodged a police report, and Sharulnaim was subsequently arrested on Feb. 17, 2025.

Prior convictions

The prosecution sought two years and 11 to 13 months’ jail and three strokes of the cane for Sharulnaim.

According to CNA, Sharulnaim also had prior convictions of theft and desertion from the civil defence.

Sharulnaim’s lawyers reportedly said Sharulnaim had a daughter and a month-old baby, and he was also financially supporting his aged parents, who had medical conditions.

His lawyers also said Sharulnaim apologised to the victims and reportedly assured them that he would be "more responsible" in future.

The judge allowed Sharulnaim's wife to stay in the courtroom to hear sentencing remarks.

He reportedly told Sharulnaim that his actions were premeditated.

Sharulnaim's wife reportedly broke down.

"Because of what you did, your children are going to grow up for a short period of time without their father," the judge reportedly said.

For putting a person in fear of harm to commit extortion, Sharulnaim could have been liable to a jail term of two to five years and caning.

For obstruction of justice, he could have been liable to a jail term of seven years and a fine.

For wrongful confinement, he could have been liable to a jail term of three years and a fine.

Four dead bodies have been found on Jeju, the largest island of South Korea, in three days, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

A man, likely in his 70s, was found dead in waters near Sinheung-ri in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, at around 3pm on Sunday, Aug. 23.

A person fishing discovered the body and reported it.

It was the second dead body found after the first body was discovered on Aug. 22.

The Jeju Coast Guard confirmed that the man had been reported missing to the Jeju Dongbu Police precinct a day before he was found.

The Coast Guard is investigating the exact cause and circumstances of his death.

Third and fourth bodies found

A third person, who had been reported missing to police, was found dead near a valley in Aewol-eup, Jeju City, at around 9:35am on Monday, Aug. 24.

Subsequently, a body believed to be that of 37-year-old woman, who went missing in May, was found at around 10:46am on Monday as well, 104 days after she apparently disappeared.

The body was discovered at a palm farm near the accommodation she stayed at.

She was found in a hanging position, Chosun Daily reported.

Rogue police officer closed case

The police officer handling the 37-year-old's disappearance case is suspected of falsely closing it when the initial missing person report was filed.

The family filed another report in July and the police resumed their search.

First body discovered on Saturday

A man in his 60s who had been reported missing was the first person to be found dead recently in Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, on Saturday, Aug. 22.

This was the first body discovered on the weekend, reported Korea JoongAng Daily.

The missing-person report for the man was filed on Jul. 2, some 51 days earlier.

Investigators then found that the police officer handling the 37-year-old missing person's case had falsely closed this case.

After the missing woman was found, the man's family refiled a missing person report on Friday, Aug. 21, which prompted the police to launch a new search.

Police officer falsely closed missing persons reports

The rogue police officer had apparently falsely closed 200 missing persons cases during 17 months while working on the island, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

He has been identified as Sergeant Boo, Chosun Daily reported.

The family of the deceased man in his 60s reported that the elderly man had left on Jun. 28 and became uncontactable.

The man had apparently told his child: “I’ve failed in business and have a lot of debt. Take care.”

However, Sergeant Boo is accused of falsely responding: “The husband has been contacted.”

The police officer also responded: “He is safe but does not wish to disclose his location to the family.”

He then closed the case.

The elderly man's son said in a press conference: "We believed the police when they said my father was safe and waited, but after 51 days, what returned was his body... The police only suggested that the family investigate privately."

Distrust in police deepening

Korea media The Korea Times reported that a distrust of the police is deepening over the premature closure of multiple missing person cases on Jeju.

South Korea police said on Tuesday, Aug. 25 that they have removed four officers in the chain of command at Jeju Seobu Police Station from their duties pending an investigation.

The police are conducting a full investigation into 298 cases closed by Sergeant Boo since March 2025.

Jeju is one of South Korea's most popular tourist destinations.

It drew 1.2 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, according to the Jeju Tourism Association.

A rollercoaster accident that left 10 injured in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, has been confirmed by Malaysian amusement park Sunway Lagoon.

This comes after the location of the incident was initially left undisclosed by Malaysian media.

Initial reports did not disclose location

According to initial reports, 10 people sustained minor injuries after an incident took place at about 9pm on Aug. 22.

The district's police chief said that 22 people, comprising locals and foreigners aged between 11 and 44, were on the ride.

Clips of the aftermath of the incident circulating online showed injured people being carried down on stretchers.

No fatalities were reported.

A police report was made the next morning on Aug. 23, according to the police chief.

He reportedly did not mention the name of the theme park in question in his statement, but advised the public not to speculate as investigations were underway.

Sunway Group confirmed incident

However, Sunway Group's founder Jeffrey Cheah confirmed on Aug. 25 that the accident occurred at the Malaysian conglomerate's amusement park.

Speaking to New Straits Times, he said that it is an incident "that all of us regret very much".

"We are lucky that there were no fatalities."

Without detailing what had occurred, Cheah attributed the accident to metal fatigue and added that the police had ruled out foul play.

He also disclosed that the ride had been temporarily closed for comprehensive inspection and maintenance work about two to three weeks before the incident.

The theme park's operator has been asked by the Subang division of political coalition Barisan Nasional and its principal member party Umno to give an official explanation of what transpired that night.

"The safety of visitors cannot be compromised for any reason, especially when it involves children, families and tourists from within and outside the country," its leader Armand Azha Abu Hanifah said, according to Free Malaysia Today.

Armand also called for a comprehensive investigation into the ride's safety records.

Addressing supposed rumours of a cover-up, he called for such claims to be investigated in order to be confirmed or dispelled.

After over two decades of living next door to each other, two neighbours, Siti and Lee (not their real names), shared an emotional goodbye.

Siti was moving away after selling her family home of 23 years.

The moment was captured in a TikTok video by Siti’s property agent, Gina Khazali, who was present for the home's handover.

Both women are in their 50s.

@gina_khazaliSeeing them hug their neighbours, the tears, the final look around the house… even Agent G also emo a bit. 🥹 Head to my profile to see their story

♬ original sound - Agent Gina Khazali

More than just neighbours

While the two women started as neighbours, living next door meant they interacted almost every day, Siti's daughter, Aifa, told Mothership.

"[Lee] would walk past our unit daily, and they would even hang their laundry side by side along the corridor," the 35-year-old said.

Over time, Siti and Lee naturally grew closer.

They confided in each other, particularly as they navigated the challenges of raising their own children during their teenage years.

"They were always ready to lend a helping hand and eventually became more like sisters than neighbours," Aifa recalled.

Day-to-day life

Their friendship also extended to the little, everyday things.

Aifa shared that they would exchange cooking ingredients such as onions and pandan leaves whenever one of them ran out, and share household items including trolleys and printers.

Lee was also there for the family's milestones, such as witnessing their weddings and the arrival of Aifa's children.

"When we were younger, she also helped to look after us whenever our parents were not at home," she added.

Difficult goodbye

When it came time for Siti to leave, saying goodbye to Lee was particularly difficult.

"After looking out for each other for so many years, moving away meant they would no longer be physically present in each other’s everyday lives," Aifa said.

In the video, the neighbours could be seen crying and hugging each other.