Hit-and-run figures don’t reflect grief over lives lost

KUALA LUMPUR: There were three fatalities out of the 36 hit-andrun cases recorded in the capital city so far this year.

But numbers do not show the unspeakable grief of those who lost their loved ones in such a manner.

There was a family that lost their mother last year when she was right in the middle of a zebra crossing in Penang.

More recently, a grieving father spoke of the daughter he lost in a hit-and-run case in Cyberjaya.

She planned to see the Northern Lights in January, said the father of the 31-year-old woman whose life had been cut short.

“We are constantly monitoring situations involving hit-and-run cases,” said City Traffic Investigation and Enforcement department chief Asst Comm Zulkefly Yahya.

“It is not that rampant as our personnel are instructed to be vigilant on such matters,” he said.

Most of the hit-and-run cases involved minor accidents (19 cases).

The remaining 14 cases were fender-benders, said ACP Zulkefly.

“If a hit-and-run does occur, we advise those with relevant informa- tion to come forward,” he said.

In Selangor, state Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department chief Supt Azman Shari’at said hit-and-run cases could be due to drivers’ wayward attitude.

“We hope motorists can be more responsible and careful.”

“There is no substitute for being careful while driving,” he said.

However, he said that hit-andrun accidents were “isolated” cases in Selangor.

“Once in a while, we do encounter them,” he said when contacted.

In GEORGE TOWN, Penang Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief Supt Wan Sharuddin Wan Omar outlined several reasons why drivers did not stop after hitting another vehicle.

One reason, he said, was because the driver did not have a valid driving licence, road tax or insurance.

“We have also encountered drivers who flee because they were using false registration plates.

“Some of the suspects are on the police wanted list while some of the vehicles driven have been reported lost or stolen,” said Supt Sharuddin in an interview.

He said however, there were also instances when the drivers were not aware of the accident or were intoxicated.