Bus Involved In Accident At Ayer Hitam Was Carrying 45 Indonesian Workers

BATU PAHAT, July 3 (Bernama) -- The tour bus involved in a pre-dawn accident at Kilometer 80.7 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) near Ayer Hitam this morning was carrying 45 Indonesian plantation workers who had just arrived from Lombok, Indonesia.

The Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Johor Bahru, Jati Heri Winarto, said that these workers were part of a 55-member group that had just arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) around 9 pm and immediately proceeded to Johor Bahru.

He said that upon their arrival from Lombok, Indonesia, 45 workers boarded the bus, while 10 others took a van before the bus was involved in an accident that also included two other lorries.

"As a result of the accident, two victims identified as Hidirman, 43, and Zulhadi, 44, were pronounced dead at the scene, and another victim identified as Nusiah sustained severe injuries and is still receiving treatment at the emergency unit of Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital (HSNI).

"Meanwhile, 14 other workers who suffered minor injuries and had also received treatment at the same hospital have been discharged and continued their journey to Johor Bahru," he told reporters at the HSNI Forensic Medical Unit here today.

Firefighters had earlier confirmed that two people died and 16 were injured in the accident involving a bus and two lorries, which occurred around 12:27 am.

Jati Heri said that as of 2:30 pm today, the bodies of both deceased was still undergoing post-mortem examinations, while the victim being treated in the emergency unit was still receiving further treatment after losing her left hand and suffering fractured ribs.

The Indonesian Consulate is currently working to arrange the repatriation of the bodies to Lombok and to obtain appropriate compensation, including through the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).

Meanwhile, Batu Pahat District Police Chief ACP Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani stated that the accident at 12:27 am occurred when the bus rear-ended a tanker lorry that was being towed by another lorry.

"The bus driver sustained injuries to his shoulder, ribs, and hand, while five other passengers complained of head pain. The tanker lorry driver, the towing lorry driver, and the remaining passengers were not injured," he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

--BERNAMA