Because the ground opened up and swallowed a woman. Because a whole woman entered the mouth of the earth and never returned. Because Kuala Lumpur sits on the soil that failed to hold. Because she was a tourist who might not be missed by citizens. Because her husband and son were not with her when she was taken. Because she was on her way to the temple. Because the question that wants to be asked is if God knew she was coming.
Because the first nine hours of the search is fuelled by prayer more than expertise. Because the diver who entered the hole and returned without the woman, said “It is pitch black! It’s full of human waste!” Because the firefighter who tried to rescue her said “it was really scary, but this is our duty so we have to overcome the fear and surrender to God.” Because the police said to the press, “we must be patient and we better pray.” Because more than one God is called upon to buffer the shock of seeing the earth eat a woman.
Because nine days have passed and the woman is now known as “the body”. Because her name is Vijayaletchumy and she remains unseen, gone, inside the hole. Because nobody knew who she was except her titles as wife, mother and frequent shopper at Masjid India. Because a shopkeeper who saw her fall into the hole said she always bought mineral water and biscuits. Because the same shopkeeper said “I also cried because the lady was a good person.” Because the search party parted ways for funeral prayers to be heard. Because God is no longer called upon when another sinkhole appears 50 metres away.
Because Singapore sent Channel News Asia to the scene of the sinking. Because the neighbouring nation feared their own descent, they deployed a woman to investigate the hole that consumed a woman. Because the woman and her cameraman deploy a sinkhole expert with a hammer to knock on the uneven tiled paths of the city. Because the sinkhole expert is also a senior lecturer at a local university and therefore his views are considered appropriate. Because the man with the hammer opines, “You see! You see here! This is Hollow. Hollow is no good! And you see this side. This side is solid. Solid is very good.”
Because there was CCTV footage of Vijayalecthumy disappearing into the hole that suddenly appears. Because the black and white video shows a man walking in front of Vijayaletchumy who makes a sidestep away from the future site of crime. Because making a woman disappear is a crime. Because the man’s reaction to the ground that had not yet broken down signals that maybe he knew something was wrong. Because the man walks on without wondering or warning anyone about the ground. Because his body appears to form a knowing reaction even though he may not have been consciously aware. Because the video evidence surfaces the question that wants to be asked: who should the man blame, God or gut feeling?
Because eleven months later the ground opened up and swallowed another woman whole. Because this woman was inside a black Mazda when she fell into the maw that yawned open in Tanjong Katong. Because Singapore suspected this would happen and it did. Because the car containing the woman toppled sideways into the gaping hole next to a construction site. Because the workers on site witnessed the road devouring the woman. Because they swiftly rescued her from sinking with her car. Because she survived there was no prayer.
Because the construction workers are Indian migrant workers who saved the woman before the firefighters could exercise their courage. Because they are named heroes quicker than having their names spelled correctly. Because the reporter who interviewed the workers assumed their English proficiency, an interpreter was asked to funnel the questions. Because the heroes understand English. Because the reporter asked the heroes “From the time the car sink…inside the hole…until…until you go rescue the lady, how…how…how many minutes pass already?” Because the woman being saved is insufficient unless the speed of saving her can be measured. Because it took 5 minutes.
Because Redditors found the funny in the incident of the woman who survived the sinkhole. Because “SINKAPORE HAHAHA SINK-APORE HAHA”. Because the Singapore government stepped in to acknowledge the heroics to prevent losing clout. Because gratitude is a government sponsored goodie bag. Because the goodie bag contained shower gel of the “whitening” kind. Because the heroes were dark skinned of the Indian kind. Because fair compensation involved a more expensive explanation. Because the heroes risk their bodies on the backs of lorries, on their way to work. Because the heroes must return to work. Because the woman is alive, worry is placed on the cars. Because the road will be repaired but liabilities remain. Because faith is missing from the conversation, the insurance agents ask: is the sinkhole an act of God?
Because the woman who survived the sinkhole was asked a question upon surviving. Because she answered “I need to call my daughter”. Because nobody will know her as the woman who sunk into a hole, she will continue to be known as a mother. Because a year has passed. Because a financial advisor finally declares that claims are only valid if a sinkhole is due to leaky pipes or human error. Because what is human error when a hole takes over a city. Because Kuala Lumpur sealed the mouth with Vijayaletchumy still inside. Because a city must forget to make space for future tragedies.
