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The Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Audience moved to tears during pantomime of FRU crash tragedy
IPOH: A sombre atmosphere filled the air at the Banquet Hall of the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building as attendees were moved to tears by a pantomime performance paying tribute to victims of the tragic Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) accident in Teluk Intan. The 15-minute performance, titled 'Sang Beret Merah' (The Red Beret), depicted the final journey of the FRU officers who had been assigned on duty during the Chitra Pournami festival in Teluk Intan on May 13, which later resulted in a tragic crash. Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, also witnessed the performance after gracing the Perak state-level Warriors' Day 2025 celebration earlier. Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad was moved to tears. The performance featured 20 police officers alongside 30 members of the Persatuan Deklamasi Lakon Perak. Accompanying the act was a poem recital by the state Cultural Council Deputy President Azmi Ismail, ASP Samsudin Hussin from the Perak Contingent Police Headquarters and Detective Sergeant Major Bashira Sharif from the Criminal Investigation Department. The performance grew even more emotional when original footage of the FRU members involved in the accident was shown. The tragic incident that shook the nation occurred about 8.50am, involving a truck carrying 15 FRU personnel from Unit 5 Ipoh. The group was returning to Ipoh after completing their assignment in Teluk Intan when their vehicle collided with a lorry transporting stones along Jalan Chikus–Sungai Lampam. Nine FRU personnel were killed in the crash, two were seriously injured, and seven others sustained minor injuries. Those killed were Sergeant S. Perumal, 44, from Lahat, Ipoh; Sergeant Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim, 46, from Tanjung Rambutan, Ipoh; Corporal Mohd Pozli Jaudin, 41, from Gunung Rapat, Ipoh; Corporal Nurit Pandak, 34, (Kampar) and Corporal Amiruddin Zabri, 38, (Gopeng). Also killed were Corporal Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan, 38, from Taiping; Corporal Muhamad Akmal Muhamad, 35, from Kuala Kurau; Lance Corporal Damarrulan Abdul Latif, 33, from Ipoh; and Constable Akmal Wafi Annuar, 28, from Lunas, Kedah.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Nation honours nine fallen FRU heroes in poignant Warriors' Day tribute
IPOH: Tears welled up and silence filled the air as 'Sang Beret Merah' delivered a powerful, wordless tribute to Malaysia's fallen heroes, stirring deep emotions during the state-level Warriors' Day celebration. The poignant performance paid homage to nine brave souls from the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) Sungai Senam, who lost their lives in a devastating road accident on May 13. With raw emotion and quiet dignity, policemen and the Perak Dramatisation Association relived their comrades' final moments through powerful gestures and haunting silence that moved the audience to tears. Among those present was the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who joined the audience in a moment of shared, silent grief. As the pantomime unfolded, many struggled to contain their emotions. Quiet sobs echoed through the Dewan Bankuet here, especially when a heart-wrenching montage played on screen, showing the FRU officers smiling inside their truck, unaware that these fleeting moments of calm would be their last. The tribute continued with a soul-stirring poetry recital by Perak Cultural Council deputy president Azmi Ismail, Assistant Superintendent Samsudin Hussin, and detective Sergeant Major Bashira Sharif from the Perak Police headquarters. Their voices, heavy with sorrow, trembled as they spoke of courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood. The tragedy struck around 9am on May 13, when a truck carrying 18 members of FRU Unit 5 was hit by a heavily loaded lorry believed to have suffered a steering failure. Eight officers died at the scene. Another succumbed to his injuries at Teluk Intan Hospital, leaving behind a trail of heartbreak for families, colleagues, and a nation in mourning. The unit had been on its way back to base after completing duty for the Chitra Pournami festival in Hilir Perak, a mission that would, tragically, become their last. The nine deceased members were Sergeant S. Perumal; Sergeant Mohd Roslan Abd Rahim; Corporal Mohd Pozli Jaudin; Corporal Nurit Pandak; Corporal Amiruddin Zabri; Corporal Mohamad Hilmi Mohd Azlan; Corporal Muhamad Akmal Muhamad; Lance Corporal Damarrulan Abdul Latif; and Constable Akmal Wafi Annuar.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Special vehicle passes issued to residents on Mada Streets near Arunachaleswara temple to prevent illegal parking
The Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Tiruvannamalai has began to issue special vehicle passes, mainly for owned cars, for residents living around Mada Streets near Arunachaleswarar temple to prevent illegal parking by tourists on narrow streets and key stretches that result in traffic congestion and accidents. RTO officials said that many cars that have other States registered number plates are parked on narrow streets and key stretches in the town. Such illegal parking by pilgrims has crippled the movement of local vehicles including school vans, ambulances and government buses. 'Police and transport officials can scan special passes on vehicles to know details of its owner, place of residence and other details to check its authenticity. After verification, more passes will be issued in the coming days,' K. Karunanidhi, RTO (Tiruvannamalai), told The Hindu. Collector K. Tharpagaraj mooted the idea of introducing special vehicle passes for residents around the temple during monthly traffic regulation meetings recently to prevent illegal parking, mostly by pilgrims. On Saturday, Mr. Tharpagaraj launched the initiative by pasting stickers on vehicles owned by residents around Mada Streets. Locals welcomed the initiative taken by the district administration in coordination with police, transport department and HR&CE as part of traffic management in the temple town. 'The new vehicle passes will help restoration of road space around the temple for residents. During emergencies, ambulances can easily access narrow lanes around the temple as the stretches will be free from illegal parking,' said B. Vasanthi, a resident. Transport officials said that as part of the initiative, 13 streets around the temple have been identified. Vehicle owners in these stretches were verified for special passes. Applicants for special passes should submit copies of vehicle registration certificate, insurance, pollution certificate, and aadhar that has the owner's name and address. Physical verification by transport officials will be done if required. Of total 378 applicants, 323 vehicle owners were issued special passes in the first phase. Subsequently, other applications will be scrutinized. Police will seize vehicles that do not have special pass stickers and are parked on identified stretches. At present, Tiruvannamalai town gets around three lakh visitors on Chitra Pournami days and 1.5 lakh tourists on weekends. Most pilgrims, especially from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, come in cabs and own cars to the temple.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Tiruvannamalai Corporation to build multi-level car parks for pilgrims near Arunachaleshwara temple
The Tiruvannamalai Corporation plans to set up multi-level modular car parking facilities, mainly for pilgrims, near the Arunachaleshwara temple to prevent haphazard parking on the town's key stretches and narrow streets. Officials said the civic body had selected at least five spots near Mada Streets around the temple for the new facilities as it would be convenient for visitors to have a place to park their vehicles safely. A nominal fee will be charged for the use of the facilities. 'Modalities of the new facility are being worked out. The estimated cost of the new multi-level parking will be around ₹1 crore,' S. Selva Balaji, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu. At present, Tiruvannamalai town gets around 3 lakh visitors on Chitra Pournami days and 1.5 lakh tourists on weekends. During the Maha Deepam festival last December, around 40 lakh visitors came to the town. Most pilgrims, especially from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, come in cabs and cars. Residents said many cars that had other State number plates were parked on the town's key stretches and narrow streets. Such illegal parking is causing traffic congestion, locals said. 'Most of these vehicles are parked during night to evade traffic police and residents' attention. Due to the blocked roads, ambulances have sometimes had trouble reaching patients during emergencies,' said P. Bhaskan, secretary, Tiruvannamalai All Traders' Association. Officials said that the the parking facilities would afford better utilisation of the available space. The new facility will be modular, which is a detachable one. Such a modular parking facility can be relocated depending on needs during festival seasons, such as Maha Deepam. Most of the open land within civic body limits comes under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department. Revenue officials have also removed encroachments on 9.5 acres, which belongs to the HR and CE Department, on the Girivalam path. A rent-free land will be provided for the new facility. Each facility will have 10 floors with on an average 10 vehicles can be parked on each floor. As per traffic police study, around 200-300 cars come to the town every day on pilgrimage. Such a parking facility will decongest the town and offer more space for both pedestrians and motorists. Other vehicles including tourist vans and buses will be allowed to park on designated temporary parking lots on the outskirts of the town.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- The Hindu
Tiruvannamalai Corporation plans to build OHTs to provide uninterrupted water supply on Girivalam path
The Tiruvannamalai Corporation plans to construct at least two large overhead tanks (OHTs) on 14-km-long Girivalam Path near Arunachaleshwara temple soon to provide uninterrupted water supply to washrooms used by pilgrims along the route. Officials of Tiruvannamalai Corporation said that existing civic amenities, mainly washrooms and water taps, remain inadequate due to the rising number of footfalls to the temple town, especially after the pandemic. 'Water supply especially to washrooms on Girivalam path remains the top priority due to a steady increase in pilgrim flow to the temple town. Water sources are also being identified for the purpose,' S. Selva Balaji, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu. On an average, the town gets around three lakh visitors on Chitra Pournami days and 1.5 lakh tourists on weekends. During Karthigai Deepam festival last December (2024), around 40 lakh visitors attended it on Maha Deepam day alone. Corporation officials said that temple and Girivalam path is covered by Adinamalai reserve forest (RF), which comprises around 900 hectares, and a home for spotted deer, wild boar, peacocks, wild cats and rabbits. Any open defecation on the route will not be unhygienic but also pose a threat to wild species in the forests. On Tuesday, along with Corporation Commissioner Mr. Balaji, Collector K. Tharpagaraj inspected temple, Girivalam path and surrounding areas on providing additional civic amenities to pilgrims. At present, the path has 57 washrooms including 35 of them were built by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). Most of the washrooms are in existence since 2002 when the path got its first batch of four toilets for pilgrims. Since then, mobile washrooms especially during festival seasons were hired on rental basis by the civic body. Corporation officials said that an additional 223 new washrooms on the path will be built in the coming months under CSR initiative by public undertakings like BHEL, NLC and ONGC. In other words, each washroom, on an average, will have a space of 50 metres between each other. The civic body plans to build at least two OHTs at a cost of Rs 30 crore for the purpose. Each tank will have a capacity of one lakh litres. Sathanur dam and Samuthiram lake will provide water for the new facility. Currently, washrooms on the path are maintained with around one MLD (millions of liters per day) of water as against the actual need of four MLD. Borewells remain a key water source for it. The civic body gets around 22 MLD for its domestic needs and other purposes from these two water bodies every day. A small share of water from these water bodies will be diverted to new washrooms on the path, Corporation officials said.
