Waikato Hospital
7 December 2008 – Malaysian communities both and Malaysia and New Zealand were saddened by the news that a group of visiting professors and students from UiTM was involved in a tragic road accident at north Putaruru, Tirau, New Zealand. Two out of six people in the van died.
UMNO Auckland has taken the initiative to drive down to Waikato Hospital in Hamilton, about one and a half hours’ drive from Auckland, to pay a visit and gave the victims moral support, also to assist the victim’s family who flew in a few days ago in every way possible while they were here in New Zealand.
Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali who headed this trip was joined by, Jaziri Alkaf Suffian, former president and his family, and Ramana Rajalingam, a representative from Malaysia Airline.
We met the victims Amirul Rashid Abd. Razak, 21, Siti Murni Ayu Mohd, 23, and Khairul Fitri Mohd, 14. Nor Aishah Razi has flown back to Malaysia as soon as she was released from the hospital.
Amirul is in a stable condition, he was badly injured with a fractured rib cage, Ayu received only minor injuries and has been released from the hospital while her brother Fitri is still in the ICU but has gained consciousness. Fitri joined the trip to follow her sister Ayu during the school break.
From our conversation with them, they came to New Zealand for their study trip organized by the UiTM Photography Club. There were ten of them but only six did the trip to Rotorua, one of the popular and beautiful tourist attractions in New Zealand, where on the trip back to Auckland their van collided with a truck. The other 4 stayed back in Auckland.
On the day of the accident we were informed that the combination of road fatigue due to long hours of driving and unfamiliar with the New Zealand roads had lead to the accident.
Ayu and Fitri’s parents were at the hospital and they were delightful and relief that their children survived the accident. They informed us that Malaysians all over New Zealand came to show their grief and support through this time of difficulty.
We were told that the Muslim community in Hamilton was very helpful and helping with preparing Shafiee Ahmad, 51, deputy dean of Student Affairs at Communications and Media Studies Faculty, and Mariam Sakinah Ahmad, 21, for Islamic burial before the bodies were sent back to Malaysia.
Big appreciation to Mr Fauzi Mohd Kassim and family, a Malaysian working in Hamilton who has helped the victims and their families in arranging and sorting any inconveniences.
Special thanks to the Malaysian Student Department and Dato’ Sopian Ahmad, High Commissioner of Malaysia to New Zealand in Wellington who have assisted in making sure processes go on smoothly and all needs are attended too.
Ridhwan urges that we should always be road wise and rest when we feel tired on the road. It helps to make contact with other fellow Malaysians while we make trips overseas.
We left Waikato Hospital at 2pm and will keep track of their improvements.
