Authorities are facing a stiff challenge in determining the cause of death of 12 Bateq Orang Asli from Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, as little remained of their bodies, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye (photo, above) said today.

Denying that the delay of the post mortem report was due to government inefficiency, he nevertheless admitted that more could have been done if the bodies had been discovered “much earlier”.

The deaths are believed to have begun in early May but news of it only broke in early June, prompting the authorities to act...