NCULCATE WEARING OF HELMETS AS A CULTURE, SAYS MINISTER

BENTONG (Malaysia), Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The public should inculcate the
wearing of safety helmets as a culture to prevent them from both minor and fatal
accidents, Malaysian Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

Liow said the use of proper helmets could also reduce the death toll among
motorcyclists and pillion riders who were the major contributors to road
accidents in the country.

"Let's inculcate as culture the wearing of helmets even if we are riding a
short distance, to work or in a village area," he told reporters after launching
the state-level campaign on the use of helmets for schoolchildren at Sekolah
Kebangsaan Sulaiman, here Sunday.

Bentong is both a town and a district in east coast state of Pahang,
Malaysia. It is located 80 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur, just across the main
range, Titiwangsa Mountains.

The campaign, which was launched in Selangor on May 2, had also been held in
seven selected states in Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA