Malaysian lorry driver awarded RM10,000 for saving 21 bus passengers
Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A lorry driver received a special award and RM10,000 for saving 21 lives.
- Wong Tak Ming acted quickly to stop a runaway bus on June 15 near Menora Tunnel, Perak.
- His actions prevented a tragic accident and earned him recognition from the Malaysian government.
A lorry driver has been hailed as a hero and received a special award along with RM10,000 from the Malaysian government for his courageous actions that saved 21 lives. Wong Tak Ming is being recognized for his quick thinking and bravery in preventing a potentially catastrophic bus accident.
Because of the speed of a driver, a hero who took action even though it might have endangered himself, that action successfully avoided a tragic accident and saved many lives.
The incident occurred on June 15 near the Menora Tunnel in Perak. A bus carrying 21 passengers from Kedah to Kuala Lumpur experienced a technical failure and lost control while descending a steep hill. The bus began to swerve uncontrollably, posing a grave danger to itself and other vehicles on the road.
Witnesses and authorities credit Tak Ming with acting swiftly and decisively. He maneuvered his lorry to intercept the runaway bus, using his vehicle to slow its momentum and prevent it from veering off the road or colliding with other vehicles. By strategically positioning his lorry against the road barrier, he managed to bring the bus to a halt without causing a major crash.
I only thought about the situation like that, as much as possible, don't let a road accident happen that causes death.
"Because of the speed of a driver, a hero who took action even though it might have endangered himself, that action successfully avoided a tragic accident and saved many lives," said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook during the award ceremony. Tak Ming stated he acted purely out of concern for the safety of others, hoping to prevent any loss of life. The Dewan Rakyat also expressed its gratitude for his bravery.
The bus was a bit far away so I had time to honk to give the cars in front time to escape and save themselves.
Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.