KUALA TERENGGANU: A bus driver and passengers of an express bus had the shock of their life early yesterday morning when a passenger thought to be fast asleep was found to have died in his seat during the journey. The deceased, Muhamad Muda, 58, from Kampung Kubang Panjang here was among the last 10 passengers when the express bus arrived at the bus terminal here at 5.30am from Shahad Perdana in Kedah.

Bus driver Megat Sudin Megat Hitam, 48, tried to awaken Muhamad, who seemed to be so deeply asleep that he was unaware that the bus had reached its destination.

"I did not think anything was wrong as it was normal for passengers to cover their face with a towel as the victim did when they wanted to sleep during the long journey."

Megat Sudin alerted the other passengers and later called the police when he discovered that Muhamad was dead.

Muhamad's wife, Maiza Derahman, 48, said her husband had called her before he boarded the bus in Kedah at 8.30pm on Sunday.

"I told him to buy some medication when he told me that he was having chest pains," said Maiza.

Kuala Terengganu police chief Assistant Commissioner Zamri Samsuddin said the case was classified as sudden death.