A friend in need is a friend indeed

JAKARTA (JP): Tales of crime and violence here have given many people the impression that the capital has reverted to the law of the jungle, but friendship apparently still exists.

On Sunday it even saved the life of M. Nur Sulaiman, a 20-year-old tire repairman. Nur was badly injured in a hit-and- run accident on Jl. Satrio in Kuningan, South Jakarta on Sunday morning.

After the driver of the Honda Civic sedan sped away from the scene of the accident, the victim's friends collected enough money to rush Nur to Jakarta General Hospital.

Nur, who has no family in this city, and five of his friends run a small tire repair shop and sell gasoline in bottles to motorists on the street.

After spending Rp 200,000 for Nur's treatment at the hospital, including registration, medicine and X-rays, Nur's friends plan to move him to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for financial reasons, Fuad Husin, one of the friends, told The Jakarta Post.

"By admitting him to Cipto hospital, we hope that the price of our friend's treatment will be much cheaper," Fuad said.

He insisted that he and his four friends would cover Nur's hospital expenses.

"We will take responsibility for him, but I still don't know whether our money will be enough or not," he said.

As of Sunday afternoon, Nur was listed as critical.

Dr. Budiman, the doctor who treated Nur, said that Nur's lungs and kidney may have been damaged in the accident.

According to a witness, Adnan Nurdin, whose motorcycle was being repaired by Nur at the time of the accident, the Honda Civic crashed into both Nur and his motorcycle.

"The car, with license plate number B 2750 DR, was trying to pass a bus on the left side," he said.

A local police officer, Sgt. Tusiman, who is in charge of the case, said that the police would be able to find the driver through the vehicle's license plate number. Then driver would then be taken to Jakarta Police Headquarters possibly to settle with the victim out of court. (01)