Health minister forced to wait before being sent to hospital

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam was forced to wait for 15 minutes before being sent to the Alor Gajah Hospital in a Projek Penyelenggaraan Lebuhraya Bhd (Propel) vehicle, following a collision at the south-bound 220.6km North-South Expressway yesterday.

The MIC deputy president however, saw a ‘positive picture’ in the delay to the hospital after his official car had collided with a lorry about 8pm.

Based on his personal experience last night, he felt it was imperative the ministry look into ways to cooperate with Propel to provide medical aid to victims of accidents in the expressway before they are sent to the nearest hospital.

“That cooperation should involve emergency aid training and basic medical equipment for Propel staff.

“The move is one solution for providing early emergency aid when a mishap takes place and the ambulance does not come (on time) to the scene,” he told a press conference at the Malacca Hospital today, where he was warded.

He was accompanied by wife Umarani and family members. The minister received visits by Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron, former MIC president S Samy Vellu and state MIC chief MS Mahadevan.

In the road crash, Dr Subramaniam’s official car was believed to have rammed the rear of a lorry which was alleged to have suddenly veered to the inside lane from the centre.

While the minister sustained minor injuries, his personal bodyguard Sergeant Zulkifli Wahab sustained internal injuries to the stomach.

Both Dr Subramaniam and Zulkifli were sent to the Alor Gajah Hospital in a Propel vehicle before they were re-routed to the Malacca Hospital in an ambulance. His driver was unhurt.

Prior to the mishap, Dr Subramaniam was heading to Malacca to attend a meeting to discuss the organisation of the MIC national assembly in the city on Nov 30.

He expects to be discharged from hospital tomorrow, and was advised by doctors to rest for two days before returning to work.

“I am thankful that I was not seriously injured depite being involved in a rather bad accident. An examination by the doctors yesterday and today, found no internal injuries,” he said, adding that his bodyguard was recuperating.

- Bernama