MORE PEOPLE COMMUTING TO WORK INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), July 11 (Bernama) -- The increase in the number of accidents involving those commuting to work was a cause for concern, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Senator Maznah Mazlin.

Citing an example, she said there was a total 57,656 cases reported last year as compared to 55,186 cases in 2009 -- an increase of 4.48 per cent.

She said, of the cases reported last year, 1,194 cases resulted in deaths.

"Almost 80 per cent of the accident victims were in their mid-30s and were mostly males.

"This situation is worrying and it results in losses to the country in terms of human resources," Maznah said in her speech during the launch of the national-level Occupational Security and Health Week 2011 near here Monday.

The launch was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Yee Moh Chai, who represented Chief Minister Musa Aman.

Later, Maznah told reporters that between January and May, this year, 1,466 accident cases were reported in East Malaysia state of Sabah, as compared to 2,919 recorded in the state during the whole of last year.