Singaporeans injured after bull charges at them in Ipoh

Ms Jade Teng and eight others from Singapore were slurping chendol at a roadside stall in the centre of Ipoh on Sunday, when a bull came charging from across the road.

By the time they saw it, it was too late.

One man in his 70s tried to block the bull with his arms but fell off his chair and sprained his back. Others ran for their lives but tripped on the narrow walkway.

Ms Teng told The Straits Times by phone on Monday that her younger sister took a kick on the chest from the bull while her sister-in-law was crushed under the table when the bull knocked it over, sending their desserts flying.

"Our clothes were soaked in chendol," said Ms Teng. "Those of us who fell had cuts and bruises all over. We were all in shock."

The bizarre episode took place at around 4pm and did not end there at Jalan Raja Musa Aziz. The bull then ran towards Jalan Yau Tet Shin, another popular eating spot in the northern Malaysian town, where busloads of tourists often stop for the famous Nga Choy Kai, or beansprouts chicken dish.

The police and civil defence force arrived after receiving frantic calls from the public.

They fired two tranquilliser shots at the bull, but it charged on to nearby Elim Gospel Hall, which was closed after the morning service, before collapsing.

Four of the Singaporeans were treated at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, and Ms Teng's younger sister Amy had a chest X-ray taken. None was hospitalised.

The Singaporeans continued on their road trip to Cameron Highlands on Monday after two days in Ipoh, said their chauffeur and guide Martin Chu.

Travel agencies say Singaporeans usually travel to Ipoh to see the limestone caves, visit the Lost World of Tambun theme park, eat beansprouts chicken with Ipoh hor fun, and drink white coffee.

Mr Ong Boon Piow, a state assemblyman from Perak, visited the Singaporean travellers in Ipoh before they left.

He said he had asked the civil defence force to find the owner of the bull, which was said to have escaped from a shed just before a korban ritual, when animals are slaughtered as part of the Hari Raya Haji celebrations.

Cattle are rarely seen in downtown Ipoh. But in December 2007, a camel which was tied to a tree in the Perak State Mosque also broke free ahead of the korban ritual and wandered onto the busy Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang.

cpohkwan@sph.com.sg

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

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