KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 — Motorists who ignore VIP motorcades can be punished under the law, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar warned the public today.
National newswire Bernama reported Khalid as saying that action could be taken under the Police Act 1967 and that it was also an offence to obstruct public servants from performing their duty.
“There are ongoing discussions (by certain quarters) calling upon the public to not follow police orders when the police are escorting influential people.
“I am advising road users to follow orders from the police who are on duty, as there are reasons as to why they are escorting the VVIPs... mainly because of security reasons,” Khalid was quoted telling reporters in Putrajaya after receiving an honorary doctorate in leadership from Limkokwing University.
Khalid was commenting on the call by several road users on Facebook to not give way to any VIP motorcades, after Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan told motorists to wake up earlier to avoid paying more in tolls.
Facebook user Fadzil Khairi recently posted a picture of a jammed road, narrating the moment he and road users refused to make way for a motorcade purportedly ferrying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He also congratulated road users for being defiant and told them not to fear the authorities.
The post went viral with many more Malaysians joining in the call to not give way for any government officials, advising them to walk the talk by rising early to avoid traffic jams.
In the press conference today, Khalid reportedly warned news portals from playing up such Facebook posts.
“I ask that you stop this... this is no good, you are calling on the people to disregard laws,” he was quoted saying.
