A school’s efforts to raise money for one of its students has caught the attention of the wider community, who are now chipping in to help as well.

Muhammad Hilmi, a student at Meridian Secondary School, and some of his relatives were badly injured in a Christmas Eve accident in Johor.

His mother, Madam Hamimah Mammu, was one of the 14 people killed after the express coach they were in crashed into a ravine while on its way to Kuala Lumpur.

The 16-year-old’s father and sister also suffered serious injuries.

On Monday, his school distributed a letter addressed to its students’ parents asking for donations for Hilmi and his family.

The letter said Hilmi had undergone surgery on Christmas Day to insert metal rods into his spine and elbow on. His father and sister also had fractures that required surgeries.

The school principal, Mrs Hilda Thong, wrote that Hilmi needs to undergo another surgery on his spine.

“As Hilmi’s long period of hospitalisation and medical expenses is financially draining for his family, we would like to help to raise funds for him,” she wrote, describing him as a “very polite and respectful” student.

The letter has since made its rounds on social media, going viral. The original post by Facebook user Zaidy Nandir was shared almost 2,000 times as of last evening.

The letter also caught the attention of local actor Shahrin Azhar Mohamed, 45, whose 15-year-old son is also from Meridian Secondary School.

The actor, who became popular in the 1980s with the children’s television series Aksi Mat Yoyo, shared the letter with his friends to spread the word to raise funds for Hilmi’s family.

Mr Shahrin said: “When I first read the letter, it caused pain in my heart to know that the boy was severely injured. To fight that himself, knowing that his mother is not around, I really felt for him.”

Mr Shahrin is a member of Broadwalk Anglers, a group of fishing enthusiasts who are now coming together to donate to Hilmi’s family.

One of the members, Mrs Sarah Widjaya, a 36-year-old housewife, said the group is keen to do charity work, and the members had asked if they could help after seeing the letter.

“Some of us are from, or came from, low-income families. Now, since we can help people, we should. I believe what goes around comes around,” she said.

Mr Shahrin said he has raised “a couple of thousands” so far, with part of the amount coming from Broadwalk Anglers.

“Any amount is not just a small amount – it is more important we come together as one community or one Singapore.

“I am a father, and sharing with my kids about doing good will also shape their futures,” he added.

TOUCHED

Hilmi’s aunt, Madam Fatimah Mammu, said she was touched by the school’s efforts.

Blinking back tears as she spoke to The New Paper in her flat in Pasir Ris, Madam Fatimah said: “I am very thankful for the help that everyone has shown us. We’ve left it to the school and are touched by the generosity.”

When asked about her injured relatives’ condition, Madam Fatimah said Hilmi and his family members are still recovering, and they need plenty of rest.

Although the tragedy is still fresh on their minds, Madam Fatimah said the family, which also lives in Pasir Ris, is slowly recovering.

“They were badly injured and need to recover, but the donations we have received will help them recover from their injuries and their loss,” she said.

tnp@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 12, 2017.
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The Traffic Police (TP) are looking to leverage technology such as cameras to catch motorists who drive against the flow of traffic.

And anyone caught wilfully doing so will be dealt with severely, TP Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SAC) Sam Tee said yesterday.

This announcement comes after seven such cases were reported between Dec 28 and Jan 7.

One of them involved a 30-year-old man who allegedly drove his red BMW sports car against the flow of traffic on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) at 1.25am on Jan 5.

The driver, who was arrested and had his car impounded the next day, is expected to be charged with dangerous driving today. He is also being investigated for drink driving.

This happened less than a month after a Mercedes-Benz barrelled down the AYE in the wrong direction, killing a motorist and injuring three others on Dec 19.

But SAC Tee told a press conference at TP headquarters yesterday that cases of vehicles going against the flow of traffic at high speed on an expressway were uncommon.

He noted there were 118 cases of reckless or dangerous driving in the first nine months of last year, down from 189 in the same period in 2015.

Not all of them were related to driving against the flow of traffic. Investigations found that most drivers who drove against the flow of traffic had done so unintentionally, he said.

TRIGGER

Addressing the seven incidents reported in under two weeks, SAC Tee said: “There is probably a trigger (from) the tragic AYE case that reminds and encourages people to send (footage) to us.

“But the key point is whether it was intentional or unintentional.”

For example, one of the seven cases involved an elderly driver who mistakenly turned right into the wrong lane and ended up driving his black Mercedes against the flow of traffic along Bedok North Street 1 on Dec 28, said Superintendent Lionel Bok, who heads TP’s investigation branch.

Investigations did find that the driver of a white Subaru that was filmed going against traffic and allegedly running a red light at Orchid Club Road on Saturday had done so wilfully, said Supt Bok.

Stern action will be taken against him, said SAC Tee, even though a man identifying himself as the driver has posted an apology on Facebook.

SAC Tee also said that TP are looking at technology such as cameras that can detect vehicles moving against traffic to complement their officers.

They are in the midst of determining where and how best to use them.

TP have checked the roads where the seven cases occurred and are working with the Land Transport Authority to make safety improvements, such as possibly posting more road signs.

SAC Tee advised anyone who has information about such incidents to quickly report to the police via their e-feedback channel and send in footage, if any.

Motorists convicted of dangerous driving can be jailed up to a year and fined up to $3,000. Subsequent offenders can be jailed up to two years and fined up to $5,000.

rloh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 12, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – Retiree Lim Chwee Leong, 64, woke up from his coma on Wednesday (Jan 11), two months after he fell backwards at an escalator at Bishan MRT station.

The incident was among 60 plus others that took place late last year (2016) and cast a spotlight on the safety of the elderly in using escalators.

When The Straits Times visited Mr Lim at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Wednesday (Jan 11) evening and chatted with him, he was able to nod in response to simple questions. He was also able to move his right leg and hand slightly.

It was the first time Mr Lim had spoken since the accident near the MRT station’s exit D on Nov 12.

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2017-01-11 23:05:03

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64-year-old man in coma after falling down MRT escalator

Source:

The Straits Times

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His 46-year-old son, Mr Lim Ka Hock, told ST that he received the “good news” in the afternoon through a phone call from his father’s girlfriend from the hospital.

“She was yelling in his ear, telling him about how so many people have been helping us,” he said. “He will need more time to recover, but I am overjoyed to hear this good news.”

Mr Lim said his father had told the girlfriend that he remembered he had a fall at the MRT station.

“As for his memory of other things, he will still need some time, but we are hopeful,” he added.

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2016-05-11 14:55:04

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Fall into escalator gap leaves woman wheelchair bound

Source: The New Paper, Azlin Amran, Azlin Amran’s family

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There were 63 accidents involving escalators in November and December, according to figures from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) last month (Dec). Nearly four out of five such accidents involved those aged above 60.

Several people have reached out to Mr Lim’s family after reading about the incident to offer money and food, including canned items and biscuits.

Non-profit organisation The Ray of Hope Initiative (ROHI) has also started an online fundraising campaign to raise $4,600 for his father’s nursing home fees for two months. About $1,410 has been raised to date.

The ROHI’s online fundraiser is at: https://simplygiving.com/event/limchweeleong

nghuiwen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Jan 11, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

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2013-12-24 22:09:28

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Halting escalator at Orchard MRT station causes 4 to fall

Source: The Straits Times, Omy,

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