Kuala Lumpur cancels Merdeka eve celebration out of respect for sinkhole victim; Malaysia police chief says no need to declare area unsafe

In honor of the woman who fell into a sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India nearly a week ago and is still unaccounted for, Kuala Lumpur City Hall has canceled its Merdeka Eve celebrations on Friday ( Aug 30 ).

The party, on the day of Malaysia’s Independence Day, was to be held at Merdeka Square, many hundred yards from the crater site.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall called for unity and urged Malaysians to show patriotism to mark the day after announcing the cancellation on Wednesday night ( Aug 28 ) on social media.

” This be collectively– come sit the meaning of freedom with the nature of patriotism”, it posted on Facebook.

Ms. Vijayaletchumy, an Indian tourist who was apparently on a two-month vacation in Malaysia with her family, was scheduled to fly home quickly. Last Friday night, she was walking to a local church and fell into the 8-meter-deep hole in front of the Malayan Mansion on Jalan Masjid India.