Story by Danny Ooi
EXCO for Agriculture & AgroBased Industry, Rural Development and Health Dr Afif Bahardin urged the North-South Expressway concession holder PLUS to take remedial measures to improve safety at the 147km stretch of the expressway near the Juru toll plaza as it is not properly lighted.
He said this when briefing reporters during his visit of injured victims of a bus crash at the Seberang Perai Hospital on Oct 24.
Dr Afif said (as of 2pm) on Oct 24, there are 52 victims, eight fatalities, four people in the intensive care unit (ICU), 26 warded, 12 treated and discharged.
Of these, 37 are at Seberang Jaya Hospital, three at Bukit Mertajam, two at Penang Hospital and Sungai Bakap Hospital respectively.
Vice-Consul of the Indonesian Consulate in Penang Osrinikitazu Bhara, when met at the hospital, said her department is working with the police and other related agencies to identify the Indonesian victims of the bus tragedy which took place at dawn of Oct 24.
“We will try to contact the family members of the deceased and help to bring back the bodies to their home town,” she said.
Meanwhile, it was reported that in the 5.50am crash, the first bus was carrying one Nepalese and 39 Indonesian women to work at the Sony ECMS factory in Prai Industrial Estate.
The bus stopped at the left side of the expressway after developing engine trouble.
Another bus ferrying 17 local women to Plexus Manufacturing in Bayan Lepas failed to avoid the stalled bus and struck it in the rear.
The impact shifted both buses to the centre divider of the expressway,” the report said.