Mahdzir wants Education Dept to assist children of fatal crash victims

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has asked the Kedah State Education Department to assist in the schooling of the children of a couple who died in a road accident in Pendang, last night.

The couple, Mohd Padzil Rashid, 50, and his wife, Masmiwaza Mohd Noor, 42, were teachers at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pendang (SMK) and SMK Tobiar, Pendang.

"Our condolences to the family of the victims and we are deeply saddened by the tragic incident. However, I have asked the State Education Department to assist these orphans to ensure their continued schooling," he told reporters at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, here, today.

Earlier, Mahdzir who was accompanied by Kedah Education director Datuk Azuyah Hassan, met with the family members and friends of the victims at the hospital's Forensic Unit.

In the 11.30pm incident, the couple and their children were coming from Titi Haji Idris to return to their house in Taman Setia, Pendang when the MPV they were travelling in skidded and went into the opposite lane before colliding with a trailer.

The accident also caused serious injuries to the couple's five children, Maisarah 14, Masyitah, 12, twins Muhammad Asyraf and Muhammad Akmal, 11, and Munirah, six. -- BERNAMA