"MUAR: The old man who was stung by a swarm of bees in Jalan Parit Buaya here on Monday has died. Zakariah Maarof, 70, from Kampung Tengah, near Simpang Jeram here, died on Thursday night at the Muar Hospital where he was receiving treatment for hundreds of bee stings on his body, mostly on the face and head.
One of his sons, Azhar, 25, said Zakariah was unconscious for three days before he died.
“We believe, besides old age and poor health, the many bee stings he received had caused his death,” he told reporters at his father’s funeral yesterday. 
UNDER SEIGE ... Zakariah looking helpless as he came under attack by a swarm of bees on Monday in Muar.
On Nov 19, Zakariah was attacked by the swarm of bees while cycling home after buying a newspaper.
Bandar Maharani state assemblyman Richard Lau, who was with Johor housing committee chairman Samat Aripin, checking several newly-built roads and drains in the area, saw the incident and rushed to help him fend off the bees and carry him to safety.
Informed of the old man’s death, Lau said he felt sad. He said motorists who saw the incident had not come to the man’s help because they were afraid of being stung themselves.
He urged the relevant authorities to quickly smoke out the bees."
So, the million dollar question of the day would be... why didn't the passers-by help the poor man? Someone actually took the time and trouble to take that disturbing picture of him. Are certain Malaysians so into self preservation that they can just stand by and watch without doing anything? Do they not feel bad, guilty or remorse about not doing anything? Are they not capable of looking for a somewhat safer means of saving the man? Or perhaps, Malaysians are adopting an attitude whereby self preservation and a "don't get involved" policy is prevalent. Who knows... but one thing is certain, it is a sad day when a fellow human being is in need of help and for a while there, no one rushes to his aid... and to think, the human species are supposed to be an evolving race.
