SEVEN YEARS WAIT FOR RM 44,164

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: After a seven-year wait a former AirAsia flight attendant was awarded RM44,164 in general and special damages.

Balkhis Abu Bakar, 48, of Nilai, Negri Sembilan, was happy with the decision by Sessions Court judge Latifah Mohd Tahar yesterday.

The judge also awarded her interest at eight per cent for the general damages from the date the suit was filed, and interest at four per cent on the special damages from the date of the accident - March 13, 2001.

"Although I had doubts about winning the case, especially having to wait for seven years, I am glad it is all over," she said.

Balkhis had sued AirAsia following the accident while she was on her way to Terminal 3 Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang. She was in a coach provided by her employer, AirAsia, when the bus braked abruptly.

Balkhis, a mother of five, who was thrown forward from the seat, suffered injuries to the spine and neck.

She was then employed on a contract basis, handling passengers heading to Jeddah.

In her statement of claim, she said her injuries were due to the negligence of AirAsia and/or their workers, especially the bus driver….asiaone