Eight injured teens to get RM1,000 aid from govt

JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor government will give RM1,000 each to the eight teenagers injured in Saturday’s cycling tragedy here.

State Islamic Religious Committee chairman Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim said the aid was on top of the assistance given to the next-of-kin of the eight teenagers killed in the tragedy in line with the state government’s efforts to help the families involved.

“We started distributing the assistance yesterday and the remainder will be handed over today as we do not want to disturb the families who are in mourning over the loss of their children.

“What is important is that the burial arrangements have been completed, now we can move on to other things where the state government can help.

“The RM1,000 will be given to the seriously injured victims who are undergoing treatment,” he told reporters after opening the Shariah-compliant Carnival at Polytechnic Metro Johor Bahru, here yesterday.

On Saturday, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the state government would provide legal assistance to the families and relatives of the teens involved in the incident.

In addition to legal aid, the state government also announced an immediate donation of RM1,600 to each family of those killed to be channelled through state and federal agencies, including the Johor State Death Benefit Fund, Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAIJ) and the Social Welfare Department.

In the 3am incident, eight teenagers were killed while another eight were injured when a car driven by a 22-year-old woman rammed into them while they were riding their bicycles.

Johor Baru South district police chief ACP Sulaiman Salleh said at the time, a group of 20 to 30 young cyclists were believed to have been riding their bicycles in the middle of the Inner Ring Road and the driver from Taman Pelangi was believed to have had no time to avoid hitting the group. - Bernama