British tourist killed in bus crash

British tourist killed in bus crash

British tourist killed in bus crash

Posted: 20 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

21 April 2014| last updated at 01:14AM

In the 4.20pm incident, the bus skidded and spun several times before rolling over and landing in a bush near the oil palm plantation. One of the 38 passengers was killed.

Harry Christopher Woolhouse, 32, of Peterborough, England, died on the spot.

It was the second fatal accident involving double-decker express buses.

On April 12, a double-decker express bus overturned at Km11 of Jalan Bentong-Raub, killing three passengers and seriously injuring 10 others.

The bus' co-driver in yesterday's accident, who wanted to be known only as "Along", said he was transporting the tourists back to Singapore after they had spent their holidays in Pulau Redang, Terengganu.

The tourists were from the United Kingdom (two), the United States (one), Taiwan (one), France (one), China (six), India (five), Singapore (20), Myanmar and Vietnam (one each). There were also another driver and tour guide.

"It was raining and I lost control of the vehicle when descending the stretch. The bus spun several times before it rolled over the slope on the left side of the road," he said at the scene.

Along, who fractured his spine, was rushed to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan.

New Straits Times photographer Luqman Hakim Zubir, who arrived at the scene at 4.30pm, said all the windows of the bus were shattered.

There was a body about 5m from the bus.

Luqman said some of the slightly injured victims were seen help-ing other passengers, including those trapped inside the bus.

"It was chaotic. Several motorists pulled over to help the injured before medical and Fire and Rescue Department personnel arrived."

Passenger S. Balaji from Madurai, India, said the accident happened so fast that the only thing he could remember was that the bus ending up in a bush.

"My friends and I managed to crawl out of the bus through the broken windows," said the 29-year-old software engineer, who works in Singapore.

Bus driver Mohd Salleh Hassan, 48, said Along was given the task to drive the bus from Terengganu.

"I was sleeping and was awakened when the bus spun.

"There was no time to react and I could only pray," said Salleh from Muar.

Firemen helping passengers after the accident in Jalan Kuantan-Segamat, near Pekan, yesterday. Pix by Luqman Hakim Zubir

Injured passengers receiving medical attention before being sent to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan.

Major autism seminar

Posted: 20 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

21 April 2014| last updated at 01:11AM
By ROZANNA LATIFF | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: THE prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, is scheduled today to receive courtesy calls from  global women leaders attending the 2014 International Seminar on Autism.

This afternoon, Rosmah will meet the wife of the president of Sri Lanka, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, and the First Lady of the Kyrgyz Republic, Dr Raisa Atambaeva, at Seri Perdana, the prime minister's official residence.

In the evening, she will meet the Bangladesh prime minister's daughter, Saima Wazed Hossain, who is also the chairman of the National Advisory Committee on Autism in Bangladesh. The Albanian president's wife, Odeta Ishani, is scheduled to make a courtesy call on Rosmah tomorrow.

Other dignitaries attending the seminar include the First Lady of Sudan, Fatima Khalid Ahmad Al Bashir, and the First Lady of Morocco, Nabila Benkirane.

The two-day seminar from tomorrow, jointly organised by Permata Programme, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Autism Speaks, at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, is aimed at preparing for the implementation of Permata Kurnia, an autistic children's intervention programme in May next year.

Couple keep Malaysian culture alive in Perth

Posted: 20 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

21 April 2014| last updated at 01:16AM

Khaled Hussein, 63, and his wife, Rabiah Abdul Rahman, 62, have hosted between 10 and 15 journalists at their house in Knaphill Heights, 40km from here.

The couple, who have a daughter married to a Malaysian here and who have three children, have maintained their Malaysian way of life in terms of food and culture, right down to kain pelikat (sarong) and baju kurung.

Khaled said he subscribed to the principle of "alif, ba, ta" (reference to the Arabic alphabet), which he interpreted as agama (religion), bangsa (race) and tanah air (homeland).

He said these three factors always reminded him of Malaysia.

"Wherever we are, don't forget these three. That is why I am always happy to meet Malaysians here at my house. We have to help each other. After all, we are no strangers when we are abroad."

On the missing MAS aircraft, he said his family hoped that Malaysians would not stop praying for the safety of the passengers and crew.

"We know it has been a long time, but never give up. And, for us, this help to the media (personnel), making them feel at home, is the least we can do in contributing to the search operation." Bernama

Khaled Hussein (second from right) and his wife, Rabiah Abdul Rahman (right), hosting Malaysian media personnel covering the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, at their home in Perth yesterday. Bernama pic

'Let's focus more on learning'

Posted: 20 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

21 April 2014| last updated at 12:49AM

He said every time the state or Federal Government approached the community, they would demand allocations for temples or Tamil schools.

"This should change. Government's allocation should be channeled to more important causes which would help the community to grow."

He said cost of living was escalating, and the only way the community could cope IT was through economic empowerment.

"Even to make sure that our children get proper education, we need to have enough funds. So, the most important element here is economic empowerment."

He said those from the lower income group could not rely on jobs, such as maids, restaurant helpers, construction workers and security guards, anymore.

"Employers prefer employing foreigners for such jobs. If the Indian community does not buck up and work towards improving their lives, they will be left behind," he said, adding that in a few years, a minimum household income of RM5,000 would be needed to lead a decent life.

The government, he said, was funding initiatives by foundations, such as the New Affirmative Action Movement (NAAM), that aimed to improve the lives of the Indian community.

NAAM, which was founded by Saravanan, received a RM37-million allocation from the government to develop entrepreneurship training programmes.

Participation forms could be obtained in the MIC state, division and branch offices, as well as any Indian non-governmental organisation offices.

'Don't play the blame game'

Posted: 20 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

21 April 2014| last updated at 01:12AM
By ELVINA FERNANDEZ | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: THE Peninsular Malaysia Bus Drivers Association has called for express bus companies to be taken to task for compromising safety on the roads.

Its president, Sa'adan Man, said although there were numerous causes behind a bus crash, he believed that the problem of the welfare of drivers being overlooked was the main cause.

"Sometimes, drivers have to work five days non-stop," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

He said many bus companies did not follow set minimum wages. There were even some paying their drivers less than RM900 a month.

"They have no choice but to take up more trips to increase their earnings."

Sa'adan said other causes of road accidents were poorly maintained vehicles, bad road conditions and bad weather.

"The authorities should go after irresponsible bus companies instead of putting the blame solely on the driver when an accident occurs."

He said better enforcement was needed to ensure proper wages were paid to drivers.

"All safety aspects should be re-studied. Don't let the image of the country be affected by more bus crashes."

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) director-general Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon shared the same opinion, highlighting that education, enforcement and empowering consumers could make a difference.

He said proper safety management was crucial, adding that there was no point in playing the blame game when a mishap happened.

"It is about how we manage safety and rectify related problems."

Wong said bus companies played an important role and should be educated to put in place proper safety management.

"This includes having the vehicles serviced and not merely focusing on increasing ticket sale. They might think minor servicing can be put on hold but this could lead to a breakdown or worse, an accident."

Wong said drivers' schedules should be better managed, adding that they should not be overworked.

"Consumers should also exercise their rights. If they feel that a vehicle is not safe or the driver not driving safely, they should stop their journey."

Baby chokes to death after swallowing screw

Posted: 20 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

21 April 2014| last updated at 12:50AM

District police chief Superintendent Kamaruddin Mohd Zakaria said Muhammad Adam Nazmi Yusmadi fell unconscious after vomiting several times about 2.30pm.

One of Adam's siblings alerted their 58-year-old grandfather, Mat Deris Mat Din, who rushed the baby to Besut Hospital together with his wife and the boy's mother.

Kamaruddin said Adam was pronounced dead on arrival.

He said Mat Deris' police report stated that the baby's mother had been taking a bath at the time of the incident while he and his wife were not paying attention to the children as they were playing among themselves.

"The grandfather said the baby was left to play in the living room with his siblings, aged 5 and 3. He claimed they did not know that the baby had swallowed a screw."

Kamaruddin said the medical examination showed a 2cm-long screw was stuck in the baby's throat, adding that initial investigations revealed no foul play in the incident.

Yusmadi Yusof and wife Nor Faizah Mat Deris showing the picture of their late baby. Pic by Mohamad Ishak


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