Grief and regret, for the parents of 12-year-old Wee Ying Ping Peony.
The parents of the Tanjong Katong Primary School student had never wanted her to go on the trip to Mount Kinabalu.
They felt the climb was going to be tough, and examinations were coming up in just 2 months.
But Mr Alson Wee said his wife relented when Peony begged to go.
The teenage loved outdoor activities, and was in the school’s netball team.
The 51-year-old said he had climbed Mount Kinabalu once, 30 years ago, and knew the challenges his daughter would face.
But, he changed his mind, believing that his daughter was in safe hands with teachers accompanying the group.
“I know that the climb isn’t easy and I never wanted her to go. Her exams were also coming up in two months and I didn’t think she should be going overseas now.”
Also, he didn’t want to disappoint his daughter, after forbidding her from going on a school trip to Taiwan a few years back.
Peony was among those who died when a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu in Sabah on Friday morning.
Her body will be flown home to Singapore today.
