Malbatt 5 sergeant killed in accident in Lebanon

A sergeant of the Malaysia Battalion 5 (Malbatt 5), which is part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) peace keeping mission, died after the tow truck he was in went out of control and plunged into a 15-metre deep ravine near the town of Houla yesterday.

Malaysian Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said the accident which happened at 5.40pm local time (10.40pm Malaysian time) claimed the life of Sgt Rosdi Mohamad Zan, 32.

The accident happened when the tow truck manned by a three-man team led by Rosdi which was towing a Condor armoured personnel carrier overturned while negotiating a bend in Malbatt 5's operational area.

His colleagues in the tow truck, L/Cpl Nur Syahied Taib, 26, who was driving, and L/Cpl Mohamad Aizuwan Atan, also 26, were injured in the incident.

"The accident happened while the men were on a Group Protection Force manoeuvre from the Kawkaba Camp to the Tibnin Camp," Zulkifeli told a press conference here today. Also present was Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

The manoeuvre involved 41 men and various types of vehicles.

"Rosdi died at the scene while the lance corporals were brought to local hospitals," said Zulkifeli. Nur Syahied who was seriously injured has been admitted to the Saint George Hospital in Beirut while Mohamad Aizuwan is receiving treatment at the Tibnin Hospital.

According to Zulkifeli, Rosdi, who hails from Jerantut, Pahang, leaves behind wife Aliza Ariffin, a son aged eight and two daughters, aged six and three.

"Funeral arrangements are being handled by Malbatt 5 and his remains are expected to arrive home on Monday before being laid to rest at his wife's Kampung in Ipoh," he said.

Zulkifeli said he had ordered a thorough investigation to be carried out into the incident without delay. Hishamuddin extended his condolences to Rosdi's family.