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.