MUAR, Nov 26 — A group of 21 Malaysians from Simpang Jeram on a tour to Hatyai, Thailand — including former Simpang Jeram village chief Lee Boon Kheng — cheated death twice in Hatyai.

The trip to return home was delayed by floods in Hatyai and when they were able to leave on Wednesday morning, the bus accidentally drove into a river beside the road.

A video circulating on social media showed the group sitting, standing, and crouching on the roof of the stranded bus, surrounded by floodwaters.

 Despite the chaos, the person recording could be heard repeatedly reassuring, “Everyone is safe.”

In the video, about 20 passengers were seen climbing onto the roof of the bus, surrounded by waters.

 Some held their luggage tightly, while others sat motionless, staring into the distance.

Although other vehicles passed not far away, the group had no safe route back to dry land.

Speaking to Sin Chew Daily at about 6pm on Wednesday, Lee recounted the harrowing experience, saying the group endured a terrifying 30 minutes and remained shaken hours later.

The group had departed Muar last Thursday ( Nov 20) and was scheduled to return on Tuesday, but severe flooding left them stranded.

When they finally began their return journey at around 8am on Wednesday,  another disaster struck.

Lee said the bus driver’s visibility was hindered by heavy rain, causing the vehicle to veer into a river.

As water began to seep into the bus, some passengers attempted to break the windows, but Lee advised against it.

 Instead, he instructed everyone to work together and stack their suitcases into a makeshift staircase.

A tour agency owner led the escape by climbing through the bus’s skylight onto the roof before helping the others up.

“I told the smaller-sized passengers to go first. If the skylight became blocked, the consequences would be unimaginable,” Lee said.

All 21 passengers — aged between 50s who know each other, managed to climb onto the roof within 10 to 12 minutes.

They also managed to save their passports and mobile phones.

Before the bus was totally submerged, Thai villagers arrived with small boats and rescued the group in batches of six.

 Within roughly 20 minutes, everyone was brought to safety.

Thai military and police officers later transported them to a safe area.

Members of the Penang Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, who were also in Thailand, provided them with drinking water and support.

Lee said the biggest relief was that the bus did not overturn.

“If the bus had flipped after water seeped in, we would be finished,” he said.

He expressed deep gratitude to the Thai villagers: “If not for them, we would have said ‘bye-bye’.”

Lee was also moved by the Thai military’s kindness — one soldier even gave a pair of slippers to a group member who had lost theirs in the chaos.

Although all passengers were rescued, some sustained minor injuries. Lee himself sprained his foot.

Describing the ordeal as “extremely terrifying,” he said that even in his 60s, he would need time to recover emotionally.

All 21 travellers were later transferred to a hotel in Dannok, southern Thailand, where they are now resting.

They are expected to be sent back to Malaysia today.

A spokesperson for the bus company confirmed that all passengers were safe.

“They have been placed in a hotel near the border checkpoint, and a replacement bus will transport them back to Muar,” the company said.