KUALA LUMPUR: The management of ICC Pudu is ready to compensate the family members of two female senior citizens who died due to breathing difficulties when a large crowd rushed to get free food coupons at the building yesterday.
Its manager, Chin Huey Yee, said the form of compensation would depend on the request from the family members.
Recalling the tragedy, Chin said the distribution of the 200 free food coupons was almost concluded before four elderly women fainted at the venue.
“The programme was organised by the hawkers at ICC Pudu food court for the second consecutive year. We only provide the venue.
“The organiser aimed at helping those above 60 years old in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration,” said Chin when met at ICC Pudu today.
Recipient can redeem the coupon on Feb 11 at the same place to get a buffet-style meal, a packet of rice and an angpao.
“They had put up a notice to inform that only 200 free food coupons would be distributed, but more than 400 people turned up,” Chin said.
Yesterday, two women, Ah Poh, 85, and Law Ion Nang, 78, were found dead while waiting for their turn to get free food coupons.
She said the organiser had already distributed 150 coupons at about 11.50am before the security guard informed that four women had fainted.
“Prior to the incident, we had asked the remaining people to go home as the registration was already closed.
“But they refused to go home. Instead, they started pushing and the situation became chaotic. Sadly, the two elderly women died before ambulance could reach the location,” she said.
She added that the management would carry on with the Feb 11 programme as scheduled.
Meanwhile, City police chief Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said police would record the organiser’s statement.
He added that the organiser did not inform police on the programme.
“We will question the organiser. At the moment, we are still waiting for the post-mortem result, but initial information showed that the victims were experiencing breathing difficulties.
“Both the bodies had been claimed by their family members,” he said, adding that police are classifying the case as sudden death until the investigation is complete.