UKM MOURNS LOSS OF DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER KILLED IN NSE ACCIDENT

KAJANG, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- The late Khairul Ikhwan Mazupi, 32, who perished in a five-vehicle accident at KM204 of the North-South Expressway (NSE) heading north near Ayer Keroh last night, was a dedicated staff member whose passing is a significant loss to the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

UKM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman said the late assistant engineer was heavily involved in the Faculty of Dentistry relocation project from Jalan Raja Muda in Kuala Lumpur to Cheras.

"I had just met with him last month to discuss the relocation project of the Faculty of Dentistry. He contributed immensely in terms of design improvements and the faculty's layout," he said when reporters met him at the Al-Ikhlas Surau, Seksyen 4 Tambahan, Bandar Baru Bangi, here today.

Khairul Ikhwan, his wife Fadzlenna Ramli, 32, and their youngest child Muhammad Umar, 2, were killed after the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) he was driving collided with a tour bus that skidded after hitting a detached lorry tyre in the middle lane of the expressway.

Also killed were Fadzlenna's parents, Ramli Ab Wahab, 66, and Fauziah Jaafar, 69, who were in the same MPV.

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UKM-STAFF 2 (LAST) KAJANG

Mohd Ekhwan said the university would assist in ensuring the welfare of the couple's two critically injured children currently receiving treatment at Melaka Hospital is taken care. In addition, a personal contribution from Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zamby Abdul Kadir will be presented this Friday.

"There have been instances where our staff passed away, and we supported their children from a young age until they secured jobs. We are considering whether to use that method or another. In terms of welfare, we are providing specific contributions," he said.

Earlier, approximately 500 family members and close friends attended the funeral prayers for the five family members at the surau. The prayers took place at 5.45 pm.

In the 8.45 pm incident last night, seven people were killed, and 33 others were injured in a collision involving a tour bus carrying 27 passengers, two lorries, a car, and an MPV.

The other two victims killed were the tour bus driver, Noorisnien Khamid, 56, and a Singaporean passenger, Lamrah Asid Ali, 66.

-- BERNAMA