SUV test drive goes awry, Karim unhurt

July 14, 2013

KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Youth Development Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was a bit shaken but unhurt when the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) he was in overturned during a test drive at the Travillion here, yesterday.

SAFE & SOUND … Haji Abdul Karim (fifth left) looks on as members of the organisers push the SUV to upright
it on its wheels.

Karim had earlier officiated at the launch of final leg of the Great Wall ‘Tour of Borneo’ organised jointly by Green Oranges Sales and Services Sdn Bhd and YLH Autoworld Sdn Bhd.

In the 10.30am incident, the SUV, Great Wall H5, was driven by Muzamin, in his 40s, with Karim as the front seat passenger and Sheikh Muhamad Azli Tan Sri Nasimuddin Kamal, the CEO of Green Oranges Sales and Services, and Hong Boon Pau, Executive Director of YLH Autoworld as back seat passengers.

The accident was believed to have occurred when the driver made a turning reverse with a bit of speed on the tarmac causing the SUV to tilt and overturn.

The driver sustained cuts on his forehead from broken glass while all the three passengers, including Karim, were unhurt. He was the first to crawl out of the overturned SUV.

Karim, when met at the scene, said the SUV was driven a bit fast during the second test drive.

“Whatever the model of a vehicle, an accident like this can occur if driven fast. Whenever an accident happens, don’t panic but try to get out of the vehicle slowly,” he said.

As the front seat passenger, he was grateful to have emerged safe from the accident.

The driver, however, was sent to the hospital by the organisers of the event.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Muhamad said his group would conduct a post-mortem to determine the cause of the accident.

“We are confident that the accident was caused by human factor, however, we will conduct a post-mortem,” he said.

According to Sheikh Muhamad, this was the first time such accident had occurred involving the H5 SUV, which, prior to yesterday, was used 10 times in similar test drive in Peninsular Malaysia and seven times in Borneo.

“The accident indicated that the vehicle is of quality and has no problem,” he added.