Much has been said on social media about teenagers doing dangerous
stunts at an ungodly hour when they should be safe and sound in bed.
Crying over spilt milk won't restore or save lives but future firm
actions may prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
I feel empathy for the parents.
The
sadness of the tragedy is more young lives will be lost and innocent
motorists may find themselves in Sam's predicament, not to mention the
sufferings of parents and loved ones including Sam's, unless the problem
is eradicated.
Some
have tried to make political capital of the tragedy. It is moral
conscience at its lowest ebb. There is the accusation of racism but to
most sensible Malaysians it is an urgent matter of public safety.
Groups
of Malaysians have no more respect for the Highway Code, the rule of
law or care for their own and public safety. Scenes of mobs of young
motorcyclists bullying road users and turning highways and roads into
their racing circuits have become all too common for a long time.
Along
the North-South Highway on several occasions, I have seen young boys
doing antics more appropriate in a circus without a care in the world.
What will result if one falls off his motorbike and ends up under the
wheels of a truck or car?
Will the driver face the same fate as the young woman Sam?
Who then will be safe from these marauding hordes who endanger other road users? Don't they value their own lives?
Bad behaviour
This problem is found in many countries.
It
is up to adults to rein in bad behaviour and that is why there is the
rule of law for the purpose. It becomes frightening however when
citizens cannot depend on the laws to protect them or law enforcers to
rid the public of a pernicious danger.
For this reason, what is at
stake in Sam Ke Ting's case is not only her innocence, as upheld by the
earlier magistrate's Court decisions but law and order and justice
itself. Time will tell and many believe justice will eventually prevail.
Meanwhile, it is high time the government and police rein in the
perilous lawbreakers. Charging motorists for traffic infringements on
public roads every day becomes a farce when juvenile delinquents and
motorbike hoons are allowed to ride amok on the roads.
It is not because the local police have not acted at all but is the problem bigger than what they can cope with?
There has to be zero tolerance for the menace on public roads before more are killed.
What
is so hard in trying firm action to stop a serious and dangerous
problem that now threatens the freedom, welfare and safety of ordinary
citizens?
Who is accountable?
Eight young
lives were lost and would they still be alive if the problem of road
menacing had been nipped in the bud? Who does society hold accountable?
We kill drug pushers and blame them for causing the deaths of drug
addicts.
Who or what do we blame for the deaths of juveniles
indulging in their dangerous road pastimes? Juvenile immaturity?
Parents? The government? Society? There is no satisfactory answer. The
solution requires political will and competence but the government has
to show leadership.
The responsibility lies on the desk of the law
enforcers across the board. Primarily, the police must be held
responsible to eradicate the social and public safety menace of the road
abusers.
The Government and society can no longer adopt a 'tidak
apa' attitude in helping those who cannot help themselves. The
government has to take a hard line against road delinquents, which I
cannot overemphasize. Until then no one will be safe on the roads and
mothers will continue to weep for their young sons. And innocent
motorists will end up in jail.
