TAPAH: Tears flowed freely at the scene where nine people died in accident involving a van and a lorry transporting ice at Jalan Air Kuning-Mambang Di Awan here this morning.
Family members of the victims broke down upon seeing the wrecked van, while some others who went to Tapah Hospital, where post-mortems were being carried out, were seen inconsolable.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the daughter of victim Liew Siew Fah, 81, said she was sad that her mother had declined to stop working despite her endless appeal.
"This is the biggest regret of my life. My mother left home from Ayer Kuning at 6.30am just minutes before the tragedy.
"She had been working there for the past 10 years and earned RM40 a day," she told reporters at the hospital.
Chang Kim Yuan, who is the husband of victim Wong Yok Yen, 61, said he had been worried about her health.
"She did not go to work two days ago as she was unwell and took her medicine for high blood pressure. The tragedy struck on the day she resumed work when she was still unwell.
"I didn't even get to talk to her this morning as she left in a hurry," he said.
Farm owner Lew Di Lia, 66, whose son was the van driver Lew San Jau, 32, said he was a hardworking person who helped the other victims to get to work.
"He would wait for the others whom he called auntie at 6.30am daily to get to my farm in Malim Nawar.
"The last time we saw him was at dinner last night," said Lew who was overwhelmed with grief.