Bentong MP Tiong Lai requests help of more specialists

Bentong MP Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said today he had asked director-general of health Datuk Dr Nor Hisham Abdullah to send more specialists to attend to the critically injured people sent to several hospitals following a bus accident in Genting Highlands.

The former health minister said six people were in critical condition at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and eight at the Selayang Hospital while one was in semi-critical condition at the Sungai Buloh Hospital and another at the Bentong Hospital.

Thirty-seven people died and 16 were injured after a bus with 53 people on board plunged into a 60-metre ravine at Km3.5 of Jalan Genting Highlands-Kuala Lumpur as it was descending from the hill resort at 2.45 pm today.

Liow also advised the public not to speculate that the accident occurred because the bus was overloaded.

He said they should wait for the report on the investigation before arriving at any conclusion.

"Some are saying that the bus was overloaded ... do not speculate as the investigation is ongoing.

"Workers and the public go up and down (the hill resort) and any speculation of that sort will have a negative impact and even frighten people who use the bus service," he said.

Meanwhile, a check by Bernama at the scene of the accident found rescue teams using dogs to trace victims in the ravine.