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An inquest into the death of former Batu Sapi MP Datuk Edmund Chong Ket Wah, who was killed in a road accident last year, was told that the cause of Chong's death was due to head injury.

Dr Jessie Hiu, a forensic pathologist with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), here, said there were extensive skull fractures with laceration and bleeding within the brain.

She said based on the injuries there was unlikely chance of survival.

To a question by Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Raja Zaizul Faridah Zaharuddin on the impact on Chong's head when the accident occurred, Dr Hiu said the external and internal injuries on the head and the left upper limb suggested that Chong sustained a hard impact on the left side of his face and body.

She also agreed with counsel holding a watching brief for Chong's family that even if Chong had been wearing whatever helmet in the world and sustained the severity of the head injury, it would have made no difference.

Dr Hiu said this was because the force exceeded the capability of the helmet to protect the head.

Asked by DPP Raja Zaizul on how the accident occurred, Dr Hiu said based on the severe injuries on the head and left side of the body, it was likely that Chong had landed hard on the left side of the head and left side of the body.

"The other injuries on the face and on the right side of the limb suggested that the deceased rolled over after landing on the left side," she said.

She told the coroner that she conducted a post mortem on Chong's body at 2.30pm on Oct. 9, 2010 at the request of Investigation Officer Mohd Hafiz Lokman.

Earlier, Dr Hiu said that there were 45 external injuries on Chong's body.

In summary, she said there was laceration on the left side of the head with facial injuries and injuries on the chest and abdomen, mainly on the left side.

According to her, the external injuries on the left side of Chong's body were consistent with those seen in a road traffic accident.

Dr Hiu also said that there were also injuries on both sides of the upper and lower limbs. "However, there was a severe laceration on the left arm and forearm with multiple fracture of the left forearm bones and dislocation of the left elbow joint.

"The brain overlying the fractures was lacerated with hemorrhages within the brain tissue and blood in the ventricles. Other internal injuries were two rib fractures with bruises on the lungs severe on the left side," she added.

Dr Hiu was testifying as the 27th deponent before Coroner Melissa Chia in the inquest into the death of Chong.

Chia is assisted by DPP Raja Zaizul and traffic prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Wilynton Enchana Watt while lawyers Chin Tek Ming and Batholomew Jingulam are holding a watching brief for Chong's family.

Counsel Nelson W. Angang and Loretto S. Padua Jr. are holding a watching brief for the Mercedes Benz's driver.

Chong, then Parti Bersatu Sabah treasurer general, was killed when the 750cc Kawasaki superbike he was riding was involved in a collision with a Mercedes Benz along the Coastal Highway in front of Grace Court, Sempelang on Oct 9 last year.

Replying to a question by Batholomew on whether the injuries on the left side of Chong's face and body could have been caused by the impact of the body hitting the vehicle on the left side, Dr Hiu said that it was possible but not likely as the injuries were associated with graze abrasions which occur when skin rubs on rough surface such as roads.

To a question by Chin on whether Chong died instantly on the spot at the moment of impact on hitting the ground, Dr Hiu replied: "Based on the severity of the head injury, he most likely died fast."

The inquest, which is expected to call seven more witnesses, was adjourned to Oct 10.

Daily Express Sabah

The Sabah Progressive Party flags erected all over town have been removed following an order made by City Hall, Tuesday.

City Hall Deputy Director-General (Operations), Joannes Solidau, said City Hall made the order after receiving complaints from the public about the flags.

"However for those placed around areas out of Kota Kinabalu, such as Penampang and so on, we hope the authorities in charge there would do something if still not removed," he said. The SAPP flags were put up to mark the third anniversary of its pullout from Barisan Nasional.

Meanwhile, SAPP questioned on whose side Sabah DAP is on following its latest attack over the SAPP flags erected in public places.

"Why must DAP keep on attacking SAPP instead of BN-Umno?" asked SAPP Vice President-cum-Head of Negotiating Committee with DAP on seats and policies, Dullie Hj. Marie.

Sabah DAP vice chairman, Edward Ewol Mujie, had said it would not resort to abusing or challenging the law by putting up flags all over the city, apparently referring to the SAPP action. He said this when removing a DAP flag put up outside the BSN building in Karamunsing, adding it was probably done by someone to put the DAP in bad light.

However, Dullie said the action by Sabah DAP in attacking SAPP reinforced the notion that it was colluding with Umno "as happened during the Batu Sapi Parliamentary by-election last year."

"We have been waiting for DAP to honour their insistence to negotiate with SAPP as they had in May this year repeatedly asked SAPP to form our negotiation panel.

"But now, they back track and keep attacking SAPP, instead.

Even in the SAPP RadioSabahtv signboard issue with DBKK, DAP also sided with BN-Umno instead of a common protest against the BN on the Bersih 2.0 rally for clean and fair elections.

"Let the people know the true colours of DAP's hidden agenda, collusion with Umno and destroying co-operation among opposition parties," he said.

Dullie also reminded DAP that Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had two weeks ago asked to reset the friendship between Pakatan and SAPP.

Sources: Daily Express Sabah

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Sabah Gerakan's interest to contest in State constituencies held by its three assemblymen and also in other seats will be looked into, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman assured, Tuesday.

He said the matter would be discussed among the State Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties but that no date has been fixed.

When they have reached an agreement, the result would be submitted to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

"Most importantly, we will ensure that all (BN) component parties will get its share that is fair and just," he said, when attending the Chief Minister's Department Aidilfitri open house at Wisma Innoprise.

Sabah Gerakan Chief Datuk Gordon Leong said there was nothing wrong for three of its State assemblymen to bring over the seats they won under BN ticket to the party.

He said Datuk Peter Pang En Yin (Karamunting), Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah (Tanjong Papat) and Au Kam Wah (Elopura) have never left the BN.

Pang won his seat while with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Tan and Au won theirs while with the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) when the party was still in the BN in the previous election.

Tan and Au hopped over to Gerakan and provided the peninsula-based party its first State seats in Sabah while Pang did the same when he encountered problems with the LDP leadership.

Musa said it is equally important that the parties and candidates could obtain success and victory in the election as stated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said Najib has stressed on fielding only winnable candidates.

But to become a winnable candidate is not easy because they are required to work hard and have high commitment towards the people and the Government.

They must work hard so that the people could see that they are really committed in discharging their responsibilities.

"We should not talk too much and do less work because the people will scrutinise whether the candidate or party could represent them well or provide them with good services," he said.

Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, said they must ensure that development programmes or projects planned or in the midst of completion are completed according to schedule and plan.

Meanwhile, Musa said it is unnecessary to take into consideration the Buku Jingga (Orange Book) by Pakatan Rakyat. He said the book is only a deception by the opposition parties.

Adapted From: Daily Express Sabah