Highway rescue
> RTD officers pull out woman and child in the nick of time
KUALA LUMPUR: What was supposed to be a routine highway patrol by two Road Transport Department (RTD) officers turned into a rescue mission instead.
Selangor RTD operation unit chief Hasbullah Abu Bakar and officer Redzuan Abdul Samad were on the southbound North-South Highway yesterday, when they saw a damaged Nissan Almera stranded by the roadside with steam coming out from the hood.
The driver and one of her children were trapped in the car. Another child who had managed to crawl out of the wreckage was crying for help. She was bleeding profusely from a head wound.
“We jumped out of our car to pull out the trapped victims. They were uninjured, but the driver was in shock,” Hasbullah told theSun.
Both officers were aware of the risk of an explosion but were determined to see that all the victims were brought to safety.
However, the ordeal for the victims did not end there as the requested ambulance failed to arrive on time.
“The injured child was crying continuously. We had no choice but to transport the victims in our patrol vehicle,” Hasbullah said, adding that all victims were safely sent to the Klinik Kesihatan Tanjung Malim with police help.
Hasbullah said the patrol was part of the RTD’s two-week long “Ops Tahun Baru Cina”, but added that it was unusual for its officers to be first at the scene of an accident.
He said the public needs to change their perception of the department, stressing that its enforcement officers were actively involved in helping road users.
“We are not all about giving compound fines to road users,” Hasbullah said. “When they are in distress, we are among the first to arrive.”
theSun had been invited to get a firsthand look of Selangor RTD officers on duty during the festive season.
Other than routine patrols in accidentprone areas, spot checks were conducted at bus terminals and highway rest areas.
The Ops Tahun Baru Cina from Jan 21 to Feb 5 is part of the department’s effort to reduce accidents during Chinese New Year.
Hasbullah said wet weather conditions pose a challenge for RTD officers. “But rain or shine, we will carry out our duties as it is our responsibility to serve and assist the public.”