30 protest over ambulance blunder

Saturday May 19, 2007

SEREMBAN: Some 30 people staged a peaceful demonstration during the funeral of technician Chen Mun Seng in Port Dickson to show their anger with the Health Ministry.

They held placards urging the ministry to carry out an investigation on the Pontian district hospital.

Mun Seng, 35, was rushed to the hospital at 2.30am on May 4 after an accident in Pekan Nenas.

His brother, Boon Yee, said Mun Seng was conscious and had called his friend to tell him about the accident.

“My brother broke his right hand and had injured his intestines. We heard his condition worsened due to the internal injuries but the hospital could not send him to Sultan Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru because the ambulance was out of fuel,” he said.

The ambulance driver only managed to put in some fuel at 6.30am before taking Mun Seng to Johor Baru, he claimed.

“However, after 10 minutes, the ambulance returned to the district hospital to replace the oxygen tank which had been depleted before starting the journey all over again,” Boon Yee said.

“He was placed at the Sultan Aminah Hospital's intensive care unit and underwent four operations but died at 10.30pm on May 15 without regaining consciousness,” he said.

Boon Yee said his brother could have been saved if the ambulance had not run out of petrol.

“Their carelessness cost the life of an innocent victim,” a tearful Boon Yee said.

Employer Shigehiro Miyamae, who attended the funeral, said Mun Seng was a dedicated worker at Ishii Power.

Deputy Johor health director Dr Arbain Lani said an internal inquiry into the matter had begun.

“An ambulance should be ready at all times. We are investigating the matter,” he said.