Journey Through The Decade

When a Perodua Myvi caught fire this morning on Jalan Cheras, bystander Teo Chai Yong rushed to a nearby BHP petrol station for help. He little expected that his request for a fire extinguisher would be refused by the two BHP staff on duty and as his pleas fell on deaf ears, the Myvi’s female driver died as the car burned.

The Myvi in question was severely damaged in an accident involving a lorry and a Toyota Vios. According to Teo, he heard the Myvi’s female driver call for help while at the same time, a fire around the engine area was spreading. The accident occured at around 3.30 am, near the Cheras velodrome according to Bernama.

While making calls to the fire department and police, Teo made his way to the petrol station. His requests were denied, the staff claiming that the management did not allow the loan of fire extinguishers to the public. There were only two staff members at the kiosk, both locals.

“I was willing to leave my IC with the staff as a guarantee, but they refused,” said Teo.

Angered at the staff’s refusal to cooperate, he started yelling at the staff and said that if the victim died, they would be the murderers.

In retaliation, the staff instead threatened to report Teo to management as well as the police.

When it was clear he would not get any aid, he returned to the accident site.

By the time he returned, the fire had consumed the car along with its driver.

What saddens Teo is that he claims police at the scene said that the driver’s life could have likely been saved if a fire extinguisher had arrived in time.

According to a representative from the fire department, the accident claimed one life in total with two others in critical condition while another person, the lorry driver, was stable.

Update: The deceased’s identity was confirmed by police this morning – Florina ak Joseph, 27, a Sarawakian native and a student.


BHP government relations manager Abdul Kaiyum when contacted claimed that the BHP attendants refused to open the door for Teo as he was not ‘acting calmly’ when asking for assistance. Neither did they refer to their supervisor because it was past midnight.

In defence of the staff in charge, he said that the two of them previously had been attacked and beaten up by assailants while on duty at the station. Update: BHP clarified that there will be no formal press conference over the matter and has yet to release a formal media statement.

• ditto says:
  
  Try acting calm when their family is in the car before commenting; dumbness
  
  First they hired 2 stupid staffs and later another stupid manager who obviously did not study or learnt what PR or what corporate communications is all about? Especially in speaking to the press
  
  This the the future of Malaysia: selfish, ignorant, stupid and always looking for excuses.
  
  Malaysia BOLEH !!!

• LEO says:
  
  What a idiot reply from a so call MANAGER in such a big corporation…
  Burnt him and save him calmly, slowly and politely than he will understand what is emergency…
  
  If u are brainless is good to remain silence than talking shit…..

• Steve says:
  
  so be calm to get a fire extinguisher? OH MAN MY HOUSE IS ON FIRE…to neighbour: “nice evening man, erm my house is burning can you kindly lend me a fire extinguisher? please?” WTF…the manager is worse than those workers..calm…lmao

• comcrazy says:
  
  BHP Abdul Kaiyum, if you want to get away from this, give a good and reasonable excuse. Your excuse suck, irresponsible and un-humanity!
  
  May be the law can’t do anything on your word and your staffs action, but as consumer, we can boycott BHP.
  
  Abdul Kaiyum, you are representing a BRAND, think twice before you speak.

• BOYCOTT IT says:
  
  I would have agreed with those who say we should not boycott BHP as they feel tht it is the fault of the 2 on scene and not BHP. BUT look at what this BHP REPRESENTATIVE IS SAYING….
  
  Abdul Kaiyum when contacted claimed that the BHP attendants refused to open the door for Teo as he was not ‘acting calmly’ when asking for assistance”
  
  “In defence of the staff in charge, he said that the two of them previously had been attacked and beaten up by assailants while on duty at the station.”
  
  Cant 2 guys take down one guy who is a “robber”? Dont you have instincts which tell u if a situation is genuine?! Having such a REP that comes out in defence of such a gutless attitude truly calls for a Boycott!! He represents the company and if this is the compay’s stance…then don’t you think it is so inhumane?!

• Nur says:
  
  Al-Fatihah and condolence to the family of the deceased…. it is sad when you think what the world today has become…
  
  …The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a story about a boy with the reputation for lying which makes it hard for people to believe him when he genuinely need help. NO.. Teo did not lie BUT this particular Aesop’s fable came to mind. For all those, a life was sacrificed… with helpless people having to witness and listen to her calls for help. Traumatic isn’t it?! With this… will we still not learn? Pointing fingers will not bring the deceased back…
  
  However, as a PR, Abdul Kaiyum… you should have just SHUT UP. Your statement only made it worse…

• Dylan says:
  
  Dear Mr. GCross, In case of an emergency where there maybe loss life or limb involved, we have to give Mr. Teo an element if doubt if his case is genuin or not. If he is not a robber, the consequences maybe fatal as in this case.
  I am a medical personel, this is how we are trained. Even if the situation maybe dangerous, as long as the story that the person give which may involve loss of life and limb, we have to give help unless proven otherwise. If the case is true, we can be found guilty under the Medical Act. This is what we call humanity. By locking yourself inside safely even if someone being rob or in need of help outside is inhumane. Think if the victim is you or your family members.
  This kind of thinking only can happen in Malaysia, cause we are trained to be selfish. Take care of our belongings/save our own skin first irrespective if someone may die outside.

• Thomas Chow says:
  
  After reading the full story carried by Komunitikini, I find the explanations given by the BHP Government Relations Manager dude disgusting and irresponsible. Are they trying to find more excuses and fabrications before they hold a press conference on Monday, 7 June? A fire extinguiser costs no more than RM125!!! Now I boycott ALL BHP petrol stations. Let’s do it to teach them responsibility and care for others. Alternatively, they should just close shop and go to another country where life is cheap.