KANGAR(Malaysia): While rushing to feed her cat, a housewife accidentally knocked down her Felda settler husband, killing him instantly at their house in Kampung Binjai, Utan Aji, here yesterday.

Che Su Hashim could hardly hold back her tears when she related the 7.45am accident.

"I was in a hurry to return to our other house in nearby Felda Chuping to feed our cat.

"I did not know my husband was in front of the car because I thought he had left for the padi field earlier," said the 56-year-old woman with tears rolling down her cheeks.

As it turned out, her 58-year-old husband, Salim Sidek, was squatting in front of their car at the front lawn when Che Su rushed into the vehicle. He was preparing some fertilisers to bring to his padi field.

Che Su said she did not see her husband before starting the car.

"I turned on the ignition and the car jerked violently forward," she said.

"I also felt like it hit something very hard."

Realising the vehicle's gear was engaged, she reversed the car.

Only then, she discovered to her horror that Salim was lying motionless on the ground in a pool of blood.

He succumbed to severe head injuries on the spot.

Che Su's screams alerted her brother-in-law, Fadzil Sidek, who lives next door.

Salim was rushed to Tuanku Fauziah Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Kangar district police chief Supt Yusof Mohd Diah said the case had been classified as sudden death.