KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Siew Kim, 61, was among the seven people declared dead in the Genting Highlands tour van crash.
After checking her identity card, police sent the body to the mortuary.
However, family members soon realised that Goh was alive and had actually been sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment.
The body that had been identified as Goh was actually that of 83-year-old Wong Ah Moi, who also went by the name Wong Seh Moi.
The mix-up happened because Wong had been holding Goh’s identity card.
Goh’s family members clarified matters yesterday by contacting the Chinese media after police released the list of the deceased.
In a short text message to the media, a close relative of Goh said she was still alive.
“She’s confirmed injured. I would like to inform the public that there is a mistake in the name list,” she said.
Pahang police chief Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf confirmed the mix-up later.
He said Wong’s family members had positively identified the deceased woman.
“The family members found that the victim was actually Wong Ah Moi, who had died while holding Goh’s IC.
“Goh is still being treated at the hospital. Seven victims are being treated at the Kuala Lumpur and Temerloh hospitals,” he added.
On Wednesday, 14 people – including two drivers – were involved in the accident when their vehicle crashed in Genting Highlands. Seven have been confirmed dead.
The group, from Penang, was on their way down from Genting Highlands when the driver failed to negotiate a sharp corner and crashed into the divider.
The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) has now been directed to look into the factors behind the crash.
At a press conference at the Transport Ministry in Putrajaya yesterday, minister Anthony Loke said he had instructed the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to look into the company behind the charter service.
“I have also asked Miros to look into all aspects, including the design of the road.
“We need to take note of the lessons from this tragedy to avoid a recurrence,” he said.
