FOUR INJURED THAI TOURISTS RETURN TO THAILAND

IPOH (Malaysia), Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Four of the 10 Thai tourists injured in
a road accident two days ago south of here were taken back to Thailand
Wednesday, according to Hatyai Hospital Consultant Choowit Jiranivatanont.

He said three of them were taken by ambulance to Bukit Kayu Hitam for
transfer to a Thai ambulance for the onward journey to the Hatyai hospital and
one was taken to Subang to fly back in one of the two C-130 aircraft of the
Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).

The Thai government had sent the two aircraft to take back the bodies of the
25 Thai tourists who were killed in the accident at Km15 of the Cameron
Highlands-Simpang Pulai Road at 11.40 am on Monday.

Two Malaysians, the driver of the double-decker bus and the tourist guide,
also died in the accident which occurred when the bus was heading from Cameron
Highlands to Kuala Lumpur.

Choowit said the six other injured Thai tourists, under treatment at the
Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital here, were not fit to travel.


Thai Ambassador to Malaysia, Thana Duangrana, expressed his deepest
gratitude to the Malaysian government for assistance in sending back the injured
tourists and the bodies.

"It will be difficult for us to make the necessary arrangements without the
assistance of the Malaysian government," he said.

Asked if the embassy was planning to take legal action over the accident,
Thana said it was up to the victims' relatives as it was considered a private
matter.

"But we will provide the necessary assistance. Thais love your country very
much and they like to come here. To face such a situation (accident) is very
difficult for everyone," he said.

On the remaining six tourists at the hospital, Thana said they would
continue to receive treatment here until they recovered.