Accidents kill 144 in Malaysia

Accidents kill 144 in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Road accidents in Malaysia killed 24
people in the 24 hours since 6 a.m. Friday (2200 GMT), taking the
countrywide toll since last Saturday to 144, the national Bernama
news agency quoted police as saying.

A total of 468 road accidents were reported for the last 24-
hour period, raising the number during the Chinese New Year and
Idul Fitri holidays to 3,411.

Millions of Malaysians left their workplaces for their
hometowns and villages for the festivals, celebrated by more than
85 percent of the country's 19 million people.

Federal Police traffic control center duty officer Abdul Aziz
Omar was quoted by Bernama as saying that motorcyclists and their
riders continue to make up the highest number of fatalities.

Of the 24 killed in the latest 24-hour period, 16 were
motorcyclists and riders, five were motorists and their
passengers, and three pedestrians.

The police official said the number of vehicles on the road
was expected to increase further today, especially in the
direction of Kuala Lumpur, as people returned after the
festivals.