(May 5): Losing her parents and baby sister in a horrific accident on the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) on Saturday has forced Nur Firuza Amira, 7, to assume a role way beyond her years as she comforts her younger sister and other family members.

Relatives told the New Straits Times that Amira might appear reserved and uncomfortable under media attention but once away from the public eye, she would be the one to comfort the grieving family members.

"My heart breaks when I see how she would pull Aqila (younger sister Nur Firuzra Aqila, 4) close and console her, telling her that everything will be all right.

"She tells us that her parents and little sister are in heaven because they are good people," the girls' aunt, Yusnidah Husain, 47, told the daily.

Fairuz Nizam Husain, 35, his wife Nova Safitri Azhari, 25, and their 7-month-old daughter, Nur Firuza Annisa were killed when their Pajero was involved in the accident with two Myvi cars at about 1am.

Fairuz died at the scene in the accident while his wife and daughter died of their injuries at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).

The NST reported that as Nova Safitri lay dying on the asphalt and cradled by a relative who happened to pass by the scene of the accident, she had managed to gasp out: "Take care of my girls."

Eyewitnesses had claimed that the fatal accident was caused by an illegal race involving at least six Myvi cars.

However, members of the Familia Myvi Club had denied that they were racing on the DUKE before the accident.

Police had earlier detained the drivers, a male and a female, of the two Myvi cars involved in the accident. They were subsequently released on police bail.

Police said the investigations were 90% completed, the NST reported.

Amira made a hearfelt plea to Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when he visited the family at their home in Batu Caves.

"I want those who caused the accident to be arrested," the NST reported her as saying.

In response, Zahid held Amira's hand and assured her that if indeed the accident was caused by reckless driving, those responsible would not get away with it.

Zahid, meanwhile, ticked off one of the drivers implicated in the accident who had apparently claimed that she had an "insider" who could help her out of her predicament, the daily reported.

"Don't think that because you have an insider, you can get off scot-free. I will make sure that action is taken against this insider," the NST quoted him as saying.

He also urged car clubs to educate their members on road ethics and warn them against illegal racing.

Meanwhile, a report in The Star said Amira and Aqila would be under their grandmother's care from now on.

"Amira is old enough to know what is going on but Aqila, there is still wondering where her parents are," the daily reported Normah Toso, 65, as saying.

The Star also reported that police were determined to put a stop to illegal racing while the Transport Ministry had ordered the Road Transport Department to step up enforcement against illegal racers. – The Malaysian Insider