Black areas, hot spots the focus

Police to deploy 750 personnel for ‘Op Selamat Krismas’ to ensure safety of road users, house owners

KUCHING: A total of 750 police personnel from all branches in all districts in the state will be mobilised for this year’s ‘ Op Selamat Krismas’ to ensure the safety of road users as well as home owners. The operation, which kicked- off yesterday, will run for 15 days until Jan 1.

Sa r awak Deputy Pol ic e Commissioner Datuk Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim said the focus of the operation will be on accidentprone stretches and known housebreaking hot spots.

“We wi l l be focusing on the ‘ black spot areas’ where accidents frequent ly occur, and also criminal hot spots for housebreaking,” he told reporters after launching the operation at Emart Batu Kawah here yesterday.

Mohd Dzuraidi added this year’s operation will run on a ‘ total enforcement’ policy since both advocacy and awareness have not made a signi f icant impact on road users.

According to him, the 17 identified ‘black spots’ in Sarawak are KM1, KM6, KM11 and KM16 of Jalan Dato Mohd Musa ( Kota Samarahan); KM2 and KM9 of Jalan Bau ( Lundu); KM431 of Jalan Sarikei/Betong/Meradong

We will be focusing on the ‘black spot areas’ where accidents frequently occur, and also criminal hot spots for housebreaking.

( Bukit Sebangkoi, Sarikei); KM35 of Jalan Sri Aman/Sarikei (Lubok Antu); KM65 of Jalan Sri Aman/ Kuching, KM20, KM53 and KM56 of Jalan Sri Aman/Sarikei ( Sri Aman); KM71, KM79 and KM114 of Jalan Sibu/ Bintulu ( Mukah); KM1 of Jalan Lawas/Trusan, and KM4 of Jalan Lawas/ Merapok ( Lawas).

“There were 18,180 traf f ic accidents between January and November 2017, which is a decrease of 135 cases, or 0.7 per cent, compared to 18,315 cases over the same period in 2016. From that total, fatal accidents have also decreased by eight cases, or 2.3 per cent, from last year’s 353 to 345 this year,” he said.

Mohd Dzuraidi advised home owners who will be away during the Christmas holiday period to take precautions such as notifying neighbours and the police of their planned absence.

Datuk Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim, Sarawak deputy police commissioner

He also disclosed that Op Selamat Krismas also involves Sarawak Rivers Board and Sarawak Marine Department to bring attention to the safety of those travelling via sea and rivers.

“We will be focusing on express boat operators to keep accidents at rivers or at sea at zero.”

State Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department head Supt Alexon Naga Chabu and Emart Property Batu Kawah senior manager Simon Lee were among those present at yesterday’s launch.

Mohd Dzuraidi (right) affixes this year’s ‘Op Selamat Krismas’ sticker on a police motorcycle as part of the launch. – Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi

Emart Property Batu Kawah senior manager Simon Lee helps a motorcyclist remove his helmet before presenting him with a new one.

Mohd Dzuraidi (fourth right),Alexson (fourth left), Lee (second right) and others give their thumbs-up after launching ‘Op Selamat Krismas’, which will see 750 officers and personnel deployed to keep Sarawak safe during the festive season.

Mohd Dzuraidi (second right) helps a motorcyclist fasten his new helmet during the launch of ‘Op Selamat Krismas’ yesterday. — Photos by Mohd Rais Sanusi