By CHOK SUAT LINGsling@nst.com.my
The New Straits Times 2010/06/10
LAST Thursday, a tragic accident occurred in the small hours of the morning along Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Florina Joseph, 27, was burnt alive in her Perodua Myvi in the crash, which also involved a Toyota Vios and a lorry.
It was all the more devastating for the young woman's family when it emerged that her death might have been prevented. Reportedly, a passer-by who saw the car on fire had gone to a BH Petrol kiosk situated just 500m away to get help, but the attendants there refused to lend him fire extinguishers.
The man rushed back to the accident scene only to see the car engulfed in flames.
BH Petrol immediately expressed regret over the incident, saying the attendants refused to open their doors because robberies were common at that hour.That was not enough to douse the fiery public condemnation that followed. Some labelled the company "a murderer" and called for a boycott of BH Petrol products and services. Others demanded a formal apology and compensation.
Facebook groups were set up to rally support from Netizens. Public figures jumped on the bandwagon and roundly criticised the inertness of those on duty that day.But is it fair to blame the attendants for having clay on their feet and their hearts in their mouths? For one, they were confronted by a frantic man. It was 3.30am, when ghouls, thieves and Mat Rempit roam.
The accident site was not visible from the kiosk. Was the wildly gesticulating man one seed short of a full congkak set, a serial killer, or worse, not human?Was it a hold-up? Would the man pull out a gun or parang once the door was unlocked?It's not difficult to understand why the attendants were wary. Petrol stations are a favourite target of robbers. Recently, a Pakistani worker at a petrol station in Seremban was killed and his colleague injured when a group of men attacked and robbed them.Not long ago, too, police busted a group of Middle Eastern robbers targeting petrol stations in Kuantan.What about those two men who were shot dead at a petrol station in Changlun, Kedah? Remember the "Ranggi Gang" who terrorised petrol stations in Kuala Lumpur two years ago?
Some petrol companies have gone so far as to install panic buttons linked to the nearest police station in their kiosks. This system has apparently reduced the crime rate in Johor petrol stations by 76 per cent. Perhaps the BH Petrol station isn't equipped with such a system.And how often have we heard stories about those who went out of their way to help others only to end up stabbed, hammered, beaten to a pulp, or dead?
In 2003, a bak kut teh seller tried to be a good Samaritan but ended up dead. Tan Hooi Kee sustained serious head injuries when he valiantly tried to fend off hammer-toting assailants who were attacking another man.Not long before that, two friends were assaulted and slashed by more than 20 foreigners in Petaling Jaya when they reported a commotion at a kongsi to the guard on duty. A. Murugan died, while M. Maniam was seriously injured.And in Klang that year, a trader who responded to shouts for help was killed by the men who were trying to rob his neighbour. It certainly didn't pay for P. Mahalinggam to be helpful.
Some may also remember the young man in Sungai Bakap who rushed to help his elderly neighbour only to be knifed by a robber.Mohamad Faizal Mohamad Zin later succumbed to his injuries.Because of incidents such as these, society has become largely apathetic; not eager to step out of the comfortable and familiar to help those in need. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to do nothing at all. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Don't stop to help that woman gesturing wildly by the roadside. She might be a robber or insurance agent.
Turn the other way when you see snatch thieves stalking a potential victim. They might turn their attention on you instead.
Why think of taking to the veterinarian an injured dog by the roadside if it might very well turn around and bite you?
This attitude is not desirable in a society, but that's the way it is; the way most of us are. So, can we really blame the BH Petrol attendants that day?
What would you have done?
The New Straits Times 2010/06/10
LAST Thursday, a tragic accident occurred in the small hours of the morning along Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Florina Joseph, 27, was burnt alive in her Perodua Myvi in the crash, which also involved a Toyota Vios and a lorry.
It was all the more devastating for the young woman's family when it emerged that her death might have been prevented. Reportedly, a passer-by who saw the car on fire had gone to a BH Petrol kiosk situated just 500m away to get help, but the attendants there refused to lend him fire extinguishers.
The man rushed back to the accident scene only to see the car engulfed in flames.
BH Petrol immediately expressed regret over the incident, saying the attendants refused to open their doors because robberies were common at that hour.That was not enough to douse the fiery public condemnation that followed. Some labelled the company "a murderer" and called for a boycott of BH Petrol products and services. Others demanded a formal apology and compensation.
Facebook groups were set up to rally support from Netizens. Public figures jumped on the bandwagon and roundly criticised the inertness of those on duty that day.But is it fair to blame the attendants for having clay on their feet and their hearts in their mouths? For one, they were confronted by a frantic man. It was 3.30am, when ghouls, thieves and Mat Rempit roam.
The accident site was not visible from the kiosk. Was the wildly gesticulating man one seed short of a full congkak set, a serial killer, or worse, not human?Was it a hold-up? Would the man pull out a gun or parang once the door was unlocked?It's not difficult to understand why the attendants were wary. Petrol stations are a favourite target of robbers. Recently, a Pakistani worker at a petrol station in Seremban was killed and his colleague injured when a group of men attacked and robbed them.Not long ago, too, police busted a group of Middle Eastern robbers targeting petrol stations in Kuantan.What about those two men who were shot dead at a petrol station in Changlun, Kedah? Remember the "Ranggi Gang" who terrorised petrol stations in Kuala Lumpur two years ago?
Some petrol companies have gone so far as to install panic buttons linked to the nearest police station in their kiosks. This system has apparently reduced the crime rate in Johor petrol stations by 76 per cent. Perhaps the BH Petrol station isn't equipped with such a system.And how often have we heard stories about those who went out of their way to help others only to end up stabbed, hammered, beaten to a pulp, or dead?
In 2003, a bak kut teh seller tried to be a good Samaritan but ended up dead. Tan Hooi Kee sustained serious head injuries when he valiantly tried to fend off hammer-toting assailants who were attacking another man.Not long before that, two friends were assaulted and slashed by more than 20 foreigners in Petaling Jaya when they reported a commotion at a kongsi to the guard on duty. A. Murugan died, while M. Maniam was seriously injured.And in Klang that year, a trader who responded to shouts for help was killed by the men who were trying to rob his neighbour. It certainly didn't pay for P. Mahalinggam to be helpful.
Some may also remember the young man in Sungai Bakap who rushed to help his elderly neighbour only to be knifed by a robber.Mohamad Faizal Mohamad Zin later succumbed to his injuries.Because of incidents such as these, society has become largely apathetic; not eager to step out of the comfortable and familiar to help those in need. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to do nothing at all. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Don't stop to help that woman gesturing wildly by the roadside. She might be a robber or insurance agent.
Turn the other way when you see snatch thieves stalking a potential victim. They might turn their attention on you instead.
Why think of taking to the veterinarian an injured dog by the roadside if it might very well turn around and bite you?
This attitude is not desirable in a society, but that's the way it is; the way most of us are. So, can we really blame the BH Petrol attendants that day?
What would you have done?
kejap ade..kejap ilang. btol la cam biskut ko ni. kes ni mmg tragis kan..
ReplyDeletewagagaga... name pon choco chip cookies.. aku tade cite hebat nak diwar war kan... cane nak hapdet blog... :)
ReplyDelete