KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman is suing an insurance company for alleged breach of contract and negligence for failing to speed up an insurance claim when his son was brought to a hospital after an injury on his knee.

Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunus (pix), who is also Sungai Besar Umno division chief, said his son was injured on Sept 22 when he represented his school for a football match.

“I bought a premium insurance protection coverage for my family as I am a businessman but the insurance company rejected my application when I applied for it.

"My son was brought to the hospital in Ampang in the morning on that day," he told a press conference at the court complex here Thursday.

Jamal said he was frustrated and had to swipe his credit card for the deposits, admission to the ward, MRI and surgery which cost him about RM40,000 at the hospital in order not to delay treatment for his 16-year-old son.

"I expect to get a comfortable facility for my son as I have been paying a higher monthly insurance payment to get protection for this type of incidents," he said.

He said he filed a civil claim at the Sessions Court registry for damages as he considered the matter serious and a cause for concern to others who may face a similar situation.

"It is not my aim to gain profits by filing this claim, but to give teladan (illustrate a point) to insurance companies to be more responsible and understand the feelings of their clients," according to Jamal.

He said his son was still being treated at the hospital.

"My son had to undergo surgery for two hours. The doctor said he cannot be involved in football for about a year and has to go for treatment for another six months," he said.

In the claim which he showed to the media, Jamal, who is also the president of Malay NGOs coalition, had named Prudential BSN Takaful Bhd as the sole defendant.

Jamal said he would serve the copy of the suit to the insurance company soon for their further action.