NEW YORK: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid has offered the services of the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) to control traffic near school compounds in order to avoid the risk of fatal accidents involving students as occurred in Terengganu and Perak recently.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the matter could be discussed by schools, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Rela.
“I think we cannot place the responsibility regarding students’ safety solely on the Education Ministry or schools, but also on vehicle operators and PTAs.
“As the Home Minister, I offer Rela’s help to control traffic at schools, if needed,” he told the Malaysian media here Saturday.
He stressed that safety of students outside school compounds should not be taken lightly and that the public should not react only after an incident took place because early measures were needed to prevent such incidents from recurring.
On Wednesday, a Year Four pupil of SK Teluk Medan in Bagan Serai, Perak Mohammad Haikal Helme was killed after he was knocked down by a chicken feed-laden trailer while crossing the road in front of his school.
A day before, a student in Dungun, terengganu was also hit by a vehicle while crossing a road to school.
Ahmad Zahid is here as head of the Malaysian delegation to the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). -- Bernama