FEWER FATAL ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS
‘Total enforcement’ concept reason for Op Selamat’s success, says IGP
A“TOTAL enforcement and services” approach by all agencies involved in this year’s Op Selamat during Hari Raya led to the nationwide operation being a success.
Although the number of accidents increased, there were fewer fatal accidents and deaths on Malaysian roads compared with last year’s Hari Raya operation.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said fatal accidents dropped by 12 per cent compared with last year’s operation, while the number of deaths showed a 14 per cent drop, to 257.
He said motorcycle and pillion riders still accounted for the most number of fatalities (170), followed by car drivers and passengers (54), pedestrians (17), lorry drivers and attendants (five), cyclists and other kinds of road users (four each), fourwheel-drive motorists (two) and one bus driver.
“What’s certain is that the total enforcement concept was a proven success, based on public feedback, in particular, road users. The presence of police and members of other agencies who were involved in the operation not only helped with the smooth flow of traffic but also proved to be the saving factor when motorists were in difficulty,” he said at an awards ceremony for those involved in the operation.
Khalid thanked the other agencies involved for their cooperation. These were the Fire and Rescue, Road Transport and Works Departments, Land Public Transport Commission, the various local councils, Health Ministry, Malaysian Highway Authority, Civil Defence Force, Malaysian Red Crescent Society, St John Ambulance and highway concessionaires.
On another matter, Khalid said the force would continue to arrest members of secret societies under the nationwide crackdown codenamed Op Cantas.
Commenting on the recent arrest of the “Datuk” leader of the Double Seven Gang, he said Op Cantas targeted all known underworld gangs regardless of ethnicity.
Asked to comment on the recent news that 10 Malaysians had been arrested in Japan while attempting to smuggle in more than 100kg of gold bars, he said police were waiting for their Japanese counterparts to respond to their inquiries.
He said they had requested for a report on the incident immediately after news of the case emerged on Sunday.
According to Japan Today, Customs officials were said to have found the gold bars worth over 500 million yen (RM19.1 million) hidden under the clothing of 10 Malaysians at the Kansai International Airport in Osaka in April.