SPEAKING to the press on Oct 27, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng expressed his disappointment over Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s silence to his suggestion to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the accident in Juru.
“I’m very disappointed that the Transport Minister has not responded (to my RCI suggestion). I hope he can (bring forward) this suggestion at the next Cabinet meeting. We’re not asking anyone to resign over the accident. We want an independent investigation to check the root cause of it. (This is because) we’re talking about eight women who died and 44 who were injured,” Lim said.
“I think we should value our women. I think they deserve a Royal Commission of Inquiry. Yesterday I met the family members (of the Malaysian dead victim) and they were all very distraught. That’s only one Malaysian. How about the other seven foreign workers? They are also human. That’s why we should have the RCI to at least find out what is the root cause, take action against those who’re responsible so that justice can be done,” he added.
The day before, Lim had met the children of the late Noriah Kasa, 40, the sole Malaysian who died in the horrific accident on Oct 24 which involved two factory buses and a van in Juru.
It was then (on Oct 26) that the chief minister suggested the setting up of a RCI to investigate the cause of the accident which also claimed the lives of seven Indonesian women.
The chief minister also presented bereavement payment of RM1,000 to Noriah’s children.
On Oct 28, Lim also suggested for another RCI on the accident which happened on the same day which involved a van and an ice truck in Tapah.
Nine victims lost their lives in this tragic incident.