‘Rela can help control traffic’

DPM offers services to help students avoid accidents

NEW YORK: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has offered the services of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) to control traffic near school compounds.

This was to avoid the risk of fatal accidents involving students as occurred in Terengganu and Perak recently, he said.

Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the matter could be discussed by schools, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Rela.

“I think we cannot place the responsibility regarding students’ safety solely on the Education Ministry or schools, but also on vehicle operators and PTAs.

“As the Home Minister, I offer Rela’s help to control traffic at schools, if needed,” he told Malaysian reporters here on Saturday.

He said safety of students outside school compounds should not be taken lightly and that the public should not react only after an accident had taken place.

“Early measures are needed to prevent such incidents from recurring,” he said.

On Wednesday, a Year Four pupil of SK Teluk Medan in Bagan Serai, Perak, Mohammad Haikal Helme, was killed when he was knocked down by a chicken feed-laden trailer while crossing the road in front of his school.

A day earlier, a student in Dungun, Terengganu, was also hit by a vehicle while crossing a road to school.

Dr Ahmad Zahid was here as head of the Malaysian delegation to the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

At a gathering with Malaysian students earlier, Dr Ahmad Zahid said students abroad should not easily accept all the things reported in the media, especially social media.

He said among the issues frequently raised were the Goods and Services Tax (GST), price of petrol and the presence of Bangladesh nationals in Malaysia.

“Society should not believe what is being circulated on social media as the gospel truth,” he said.

It was attended by about 65 university students residing in the eastern part of the United States.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said it was not wrong to have a differing opinion, but the stand of the other parties should also be respected.

He reminded the students present that it was their responsibility to uphold the good name and image of Malaysia.

“If he or she does something negative that could damage the country’s image, people do not say that he or she is from Penang or Gombak but from Malaysia,” he said.

He also wanted Malaysian students abroad to mingle with the local community and to stay away from criminal activities.