KUCHING: The public must reach the right authority if they have any suggestions to enhance the safety of the roads here, to avoid them being pushed around from one agency to another.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said road infrastructures under the councils will bear the council logo on the signboard, to differentiate them from the Public Works Department (PWD) road infrastructures development.
“Many people do not realise about road infrastructures in Sarawak, if they are infrastructures done by PWD or the councils, because there are different ministries and that handle the funding.
“Not that we want to push responsibility to other people, but we want you to reach the rightful people and the relevant authority as quickly and easily as possible, and for that road along Jalan Teo Kui Seng/Jalan Stutong, it is under PWD,” he said.
The Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government said this in response to public suggestions on the safety of the road along Jalan Teo Kui Seng/Stutong Road, which saw a horrific accident a few days ago involving a multi-vehicle crash that had killed five people.
The public has suggested that the relevant authority plant trees as barricade to avoid fatal accidents.
“For instance, in Batu Kawah, PWD has been putting all those barricades as barriers, after a number of accidents, but still end of the day, if you are driving fast, lost control, and you don’t know how to control your car, be it concrete or trees’ barriers, you ae not careful, either you will kill yourself or others.
“Barriers are not a solution,” he said.
He also cited an incident that had happened in a crowded Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg, the capital of the central German state of Saxony-Anhalt, where a driver rammed into the Christmas market, killing five people.
“We must educate people, if you look at western countries, especially the recent happening at a Christmas market in Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany, this man used a car as a weapon, even-though we used cars as transport.
“Therefore, society education, government and everyone else must play their parts to ensure safety for everyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the underaged boy who killed five people in the recent accident, Dr Sim said it is every parent’s responsibility, to make sure that their children, are legally allowed to drive, have the knowledge about the dos and don’ts and ensure the usage of the ‘P’ or the ‘L’ plates.
“You (parents) cannot pretend that you are ignorant, like saying you didn’t know that your son was driving the car, unless you go and lodge police report your son stole your car.
“The parent and the society have their responsibilities, and even the government has its responsibility, no question about that,” he said.
