PETALING JAYA: They had gone to Australia for jobs in factories but it turned out to be a tragic trip for three women when they were involved in a horror crash that occurred on Christmas Eve in New South Wales.
According to a relative of one of the victims, the driver, 32, was from Perlis, the front passenger, 47, was from Kedah, and a 25-year-old mother and her two-year-old daughter in the back seat were from Terengganu.
The victims all live close to one another in Griffith, where they had moved in a little over a month ago, and the older two worked at a factory there.
The group was travelling to Mildura, Victoria, nearly five hours away, to collect some things they had left at a former residence.
It was during this journey on the Sturt Highway that the accident occurred, the vehicle reportedly rolling numerous times, leaving the three adults in serious condition.
FMT has learnt that the driver is currently in a coma. The other two women have been described as being in critical condition, with one having a serious head injury and a broken left hand.
The two-year-old, who had been strapped into a child seat, only suffered minor scratches.
It was earlier reported that the driver was flown to The Alfred hospital, while the other two adults were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
According to staff at Balranald Hospital, the two-year-old is now in the custody of a family member.
The Malaysian consul-general in Melbourne Mazita Marzuki told FMT that her office had been made aware of the matter and would do their best to render the appropriate consular assistance.
Officers from the Barrier Police District are currently investigating the circumstances of the crash and are in the midst of their inquiry.