PERMATANG PAUH, May 6 — Existing traffic laws are sufficient to keep road users safe, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said after a family of three was killed in a crash involving a car club.
He said the problem was not inadequate laws, but the challenge to detect illegal racers before they commit the crime, as such races are frequently impromptu.
“Our laws are sufficient. If someone drives dangerously, we can catch them and they can be imprisoned,” he said during a press conference at the Central Seberang Perai District Police Headquarters.
“They (illegal racers) intentionally choose the place where there is no police presence... Their illegal races aren’t planned where we can make preparations to take action against them,” he added.
He added, however, that all divisions within the police force have been deployed to investigate the incident.
The fatal crash happened in the wee hours of Saturday morning, when the victims’ Mitsubishi Pajero collided with two Perodua Myvis on the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (Duke).
The two Myvis, part of a group of six cars of the same model, were allegedly involved in an illegal race when the accident happened.
The 35-year-old female driver of the Perodua Myvi involved in the crash, however, reportedly claimed that the accident was caused by the victims, saying that the Pajero had swerved into her lane and caused her to lose control of the vehicle.
The police have since called up 11 people for questioning, including witnesses, and have released both Myvi drivers on bail.
