Indian-origin man becomes road safety envoy NR

Kuala Lumpur, July 26, 2010:

An Indian-origin man who lost his arm in a road accident in Malaysia has turned into a road safety ambassador, urging public to use helmets and drive carefully.

T. Nantha Kumar, 24, had his right arm amputated in May 2009 after a speeding car on the Jelutong Expressway in Georgetown rammed into him and flung him into a drain.

Kumar now pleads with motorists to be careful on roads to prevent accidents from happening, The Star newspaper said Monday.

"My arm was severely slashed by a broken mirror and doctors said it was too late to attach it back. My right leg was also broken in the accident," he said in the presence of Road Safety Department Director-General Suret Singh, also of Indian origin.

The jobless man, who lives with three younger siblings and his mother, has this message for road users: "I hope all road users are mindful of other people and also think of their loved ones when they are on the road."

Head injuries were the main cause of fatalities in motorcycle accidents in Malaysia - with 73 percent of 4,100 riders succumbing to the injuries last year, Singh said.

"If we can prevent road accidents, we will save the country RM9 billion ($2.8 billion) every year and add two percent more to GDP growth," he said.