BATU PAHAT: The bus involved in a pre-dawn crash at KM80.7 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) 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 Baru, Jati Heri Winarto, said that the workers were among a group of 55 from Lombok, Indonesia, who had just landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at around 9pm on Wednesday (July 2) and were headed to Johor Baru.
He said that upon their arrival from Lombok, Indonesia, 45 workers boarded the bus while 10 others were on a van.
"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 on Thursday.
Firemen earlier confirmed that two people had died and 16 were injured in the accident involving a bus and two lorries, which occurred at 12.27am.
Jati Heri said that as of 2.30pm, the bodies of both deceased were still undergoing post-mortem examinations while another victim was still receiving further treatment after losing her left hand and fracturing several 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 police chief ACP Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani said the bus involved 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
