Kedah MB visits victim of freak storm during PAS Muktamar

ALOR STAR: Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah today visited the victim of a freak storm that blew away a tent during the 63rd PAS Muktamar on Saturday night.
Ahmad Bashah met the victim during his visit to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) for his routine checkup.
"Since I am here and I heard about what happened last night, I decided to visit the victim," he told theSun when met at the hospital lobby early today.
He spent about 20 minutes talking to the victim and her family in the hospital ward.
Meanwhile, the victim Zainaton Man said she and her family were at the expo site of the Muktamar when the storm ravaged the place.
She said it happened during the Maghrib prayer call, when they visited one of the booths at the Muktamar.
"I tried to escape, but one of the tents that was swept away by the wind fell on me," she told theSun.
The victim's husband Zaharil Ahmad, 48, said he managed to whisk away their children to safer grounds during the incident.
"I brought them to safety first, when I came back to search for my wife, she was already trapped under the collapsed tent," he said.
Zaharil said he and several others including PAS Jabatan Amal (voluntary unit) personnel managed to rescue his wife from the collapsed tent and rushed her to the hospital.
A heavy downpour coupled with strong winds at 7.30pm yesterday swept in suddenly and was over in 30 minutes.
About 18 people were injured when the freak storm blew away a tent at Kedah PAS Complex, the venue of the 63rd PAS annual general assembly (Muktamar).
Meanwhile PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the proceedings of the Muktamar will convene as usual as it did not affect the main hall of the meeting.
He said PAS members should not worry about the safety of the venue as the affected area has been sealed off by authorities.
"PAS members and the public need not worry about coming to the Muktamar, it is a tragedy that is beyond our control and it happened in the blink of an eye," he said.
Tuan Ibrahim said the party is still evaluating the incident and the losses incurred by the party and the traders.
"For the time being, all activities except the Muktamar will be stopped to make way for maintenance and repair work at the site," he said.