One Malaysian Still Missing In Hat Yai Blast

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia), April 2 (BERNAMA) -- A Malaysian is still missing in the Hat Yai bomb blast on Saturday while the Malaysian government today advised Malaysians to avoid non-essential travel to southern Thailand. Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said the Thai authorities were carrying DNA test on one unidentified body recovered and the result would be known on Monday. "We still could not establish the situation of the missing Malaysian and the identity of the unidentified body found at the scene," he told Malaysian journalists, here. He confirmed that one Malaysian died and 27 Malaysians injured, including 10 who suffered 30 per cent to 50 per cent burns of their body area. The 10 are still being treated at three hospitals in southern Thailand for respiratory difficulty and other related injuries. The dead was identified as Low Thian Hock, 46, from Kulim province of northen state of Malaysia, Kedah. The 10 seriously injured were identified as Lew Kim Lai, 39, Lim Hock Bee, 37, Wong Sze Ee, 32, Fook Hock Chuan, 33, Chiaw Pui Pui, 32, Chiaw Pui Hoon, 34, Chiaw Pui See, 33, Choo Kok Boon, 46, Sagunthala a/p Krishnan, 34, and Mini Ng, 35. The 17 others were given outpatient treatment. Ten people were killed and more than 300 others injured in the bomb attack at Lee Garden Hotel in Hat Yai at 1pm Saturday. He said the initial investigation by the Thai authorities revealed that bombs were planted on two motorcycles, one car and one pick-up truck parked at the hotel's car park. Initially, the authorities thought the blast was caused by leaked gas but concluded it was a bomb attack when they found chemical residue after inspecting the place. Anifah said the next of kin of the dead and injured had been informed and the government would facilitate their travelling if they wished to meet their family members there. He said all medical needs and expenses for the injured Malaysians would be taken care by the Thai authorities. Anifah said it was not advisable to bring back home all those seriously injured at the moment as their condition did not warrant such mobility. The minister said he would seek clarification from his Thai counterpart Dr Surapong Tovichakchaikul tonight whether it would be safe for Malaysians to travel to southern Thailand following the incident. In fact, Anifah said, the government had issued similar travel advisory for southern Thailand from time to time. Asean foreign ministers are here for the Asean Ministerial Meeting on Monday and Asean Summit the following day. Meanwhile, Malaysia's consul-general in Thailand, Mohd Aini Atan, when contacted from Kangar, said Malaysian tourist, restaurant worker Tan Peng Chan 39, from Kuala Kedah, failed to be contacted in Hat Yai after the bomb incident by his family, who would again be identifying a body at the Songkhla Nagarind Hospital on Monday. He said the consulate's officers and Tan's family members who were at the hospital could not yet identify the body today and would do so again tomorrow. The consulate was informed about the missing Tan today. Mohd Aini also said that of the 10 injured and warded Malaysians at various hospitals in Hat Yai, two had been allowed to go home as their injuries were not serious. Songkhla governor Grisada Boonrach was reported to have apologised to the people of Malaysia following the bomb blast at the 33-storey hotel where one Malaysian was reportedly killed and several others injured. -- BERNAMA