Apprehend touts who trawl for accidents

OF late, on social media, we have seen many video recordings of the West conducting social experiments to measure the level of kindness, empathy, sympathy and acts of humanity.

I have been witness to this myself – once, when I saw a skinny old man being bashed almost to death by five or six young healthy men, and again when I myself needed help and people ran away when I approached them.

In the former incident, I quickly called the police and took down the number of the assailants’ vehicle licence plate.

In the latter, I was in a car accident. On Dec 15, I was on my way back from a friend’s birthday party. At about 1am, I was on the Kesas highway, driving at about 90km/h and wanting to get home to my frantic husband, but remaining calm and alert.

The highway was still unusually busy, and there were many motorists who were speeding and racing.

Two cars closely overtook me at high speed, and then my car was hit from behind by a speeding car driven by a young lady. She crashed into the left side, sending my car spinning into the leftmost lane. I assumed she was also trying to overtake me at high speed. We were lucky that both of us lived to tell the tale.

I struggled out of my car and went to a nearby petrol station to get help. There was a couple who were walking my way to board their vehicle, but much to my shock and disbelief, both the man and woman ran away from me as if they had seen a ghost!

I went to the station employee and he kindly helped me.

It is understandable that due to a prevalence of cheating and fraud cases, people have become wary of people who look like they are in trouble.

But surely the public should be able to tell a genuine incident from a bogus one and take precautionary measures to safeguard themselves when aiding others?

I believe media reporting too can play a vital role in restoring people’s confidence in the act of kindness. More focus should be given to good samaritans and the encouragement of such deeds.

Education too will go a long way towards creating caring and ethical individuals – a key component of a civilised and progressive society. Hence, I strongly support the re-introduction of civic studies into the school curriculum.

Returning to my accident, I allowed my car to be towed away and repaired at a particular workshop after a tout convinced me it was reliable and responsible.

Much to my dismay, three days later, after the tout failed to take my car to the police station for photographing, I decided to go to the workshop to check on my car.

When I told them that I was taking my car elsewhere for repair, they refused to release it. After a lengthy argument, they demanded a sum of RM1,500 for release. I was intimidated by touts shouting at the top of their voice and glaring angrily at me.

I called the police officer in charge of the investigation for help, but he casually replied that his part of the work was done and it was up to the touts and me to work it out.

Aren’t the police the keepers of safety and peace in this country? If one cannot rely on them to step in in situations that could potentially erupt into serious crimes, who can one turn to?

Not having a choice, I was forced to agree to the demands with five men snarling at me, a sole lady in a hijab.

No one should have to feel this sense of helplessness and victimisation. And so I strongly urge the government to create a new “ecosystem” for accident victims to ensure that the public and drivers who are in shock and trauma at the site of accident are not taken advantage of by touts.

Steps should be taken to make it an offence for touts to be at the scene of an accident. Instead, all vehicles should be towed into police custody and subsequently released to authorised workshops.

I also suggest that accident scenes be cordoned off and concealed from public view to avoid hours of traffic build-up.

Steps should be taken to make it an offence for touts to be at the scene of an accident.

JUMMANA SAIFUDDIN Kota Kemuning, Selangor