51 year-old Mr Wee, the father of the Singaporean student Peony Wee Ying Ping, says he regrets letting her join the school expedition to Mount Kinabalu.
Peony was a primary 6 student of Tanjong Katong Primary School and among 8 students and 2 teachers who had gone missing after the earthquake struck Sabah while they were climbing. She and her peers would be sitting for their Primary School Leaving Examination in 2 months if not for the disaster.
"I should not have let her go," Mr Wee says. He only relented after his daughter begged for his approval constantly, paying S$600 (RM 1660) for the trip as he wanted to make her happy.
"After all, there would be teachers looking after the children," he added.
Peony flew to Sabah at 6.30AM on Wednesday.
Mr Wee said that Peony was a good girl who would help her mother at her traditional Chinese medicine clinic whenever she was free. He has 2 other children, a 14-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter.
"She loved her sister despite the age gap." He said that Peony would take her sister to the playground whenever she could.
Mr Wee described his daughter as someone who was "very active and loved outdoor activities". She was also a student leader and a member of the school's netball team.