Road deaths likely to rise with highway completion – Dr Sim
KUCHING: The completion of the Pan Borneo Highway is expected to add to the number of road accident- related deaths in the state.
According to Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, heart attacks, cancer and road accidents are the main contributors of fatalities in Sarawak.
“When the Pan Borneo Highway is completed, it is expected to contribute to the increase in road accident fatalities.
“We don’t want this to happen, and don’t want accidents to eventually become the main cause of fatalities in Sarawak,” he said when launching a YamahaKuching Malaysia Day road safety campaign at Kuching Sentral, here, yesterday.
Dr Sim went on to urge everyone to work together to promote road safety awareness to the community, adding that it was important to create a society that prioritises road safety.
“Only awareness can help to reduce road accidents and for that, all parties, be it the private sector or government agencies, must play their roles in creating awareness for the public.
“If everyone works together, we can surely reduce road accidents especially those that cause death.”
Meanwhile, the YamahaKuching Malaysia Day road safety campaign was jointly organised by Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn Bhd, Malaysia Motorcycle and Scooter Dealers Association, as well as Kuching Bicycle and Motorcycle Association.
Present at the event were state Road Transport Department director Mohd Syafiq Anas Abdullah, Kuching police chief ACP Abang Ahmad Abang Julai, Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Jim Khor, and Kuching Bicycle and Motorcycle Association chairman Lau Soon Yiun.
In his speech, Khor said the campaign was to educate road users on the danger of beating the traffic light.
“Beating the red light is dangerous. It can cause injuries and even death, whether to motorcyclists or motorists...this bad attitude must be stopped.”
The campaign also saw the distribution of motorcycle helmets and safety jackets to the public, which were sponsored by Aeon Credit Service and KHI Helmets Industries ( M) Sdn Bhd.