The bus skidded and crashed into a drain.

SIMPANG PULAI: A young orang asli, who was on his way to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, died in a traffic accident when the bus he was travelling in skidded and crashed into a drain at KM15 of the Cameron Highlands-Simpang Pulai road.

Mali Along, 21, who hailed from Pos Tuil, Lojing, Kelantan, died after being sent to Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh here on Friday.

Four other passengers, aged between 15 and 60, suffered severe injuries and were warded in hospital while the other 10 were given outpatient treatment.

The group was a part of a convoy of 25 buses going to attend a programme themed 'Changing the destiny of orang asli', which was officiated by Najib, at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Seri Iskandar.

Ipoh deputy traffic chief Assistant Superintendent R. Ganasan said early investigations showed that the bus driver might have had problems shifting gears when he reached a sharp corner.

"The driver lost control and hit another bus in front before swerving into the drain," he said, adding that the incident happened around 2pm.

The driver of the bus that was hit lodged a report at the Simpang Pulai police station while the remaining 23 buses continued their journey.

ASP Ganesan said the driver of the wrecked bus, in his 40s, disappeared shortly after the accident.

Najib and Rosmah meeting the survivors of the collision.

Later Bernama reported, Najib and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor on Friday visited the victims of the road accident.

Najib and Rosmah who arrived at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital here at 6.30pm was accompanied by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his wife Datin Seri Saripah Zulkifli, spent about 15 minutes with the victims.

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