KUALA LUMPUR: Police are calling for witnesses of a road rage incident along the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway yesterday, which saw a teenager allegedly run down by a car, to come forward to assist probe.
City Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department Legal Affairs officer Deputy Superintendent Shafie Daud said police had recorded the statement from the driver of the car when he was arrested following the accident after the Sungai Besi toll plaza at about 1pm yesterday.
When asked on what had sparked the argument, Shafie said police have yet to pinpoint the cause of the argument as they have only heard one-side of the story.
Police, he said, would be calling up the motorcyclist to record his statement.
“We also need to summon witnesses in order to verify their statements,” he said.
Shafie added individuals who had witnessed the incident should come forward to the City Traffic police station in Jalan H.S Lee here to facilitate investigation.
The car driver, a 32-year-old private school teacher from Seremban had been released on police’s bail today after he was questioned.
He said the case is still being investigated for causing death by dangerous driving.
In the incident, 19-year-old Mimi Zulaika Razib, who was riding pillion was killed after she fell from the motorcycle and allegedly run down by the car driver.
Prior to that, the motorcycle rider had allegedly lashed out in anger and kicked the car’s passenger side mirror after an argument.
His action had enraged the driver of the car, who then swerved his car in the direction of the bike. The car struck the bike, causing both riders to fall off.
It is learnt that the motorcycle rider received outpatient treatment.
Attempts to locate the 23-year-old motorcyclist were futile. A visit to his house in Ampang saw the doors were locked and knocks on the door went unanswered.
Checks at Mimi’s address at the police quarters in Setiawangsa revealed the family no longer lived there.
A resident who declined to be named said the family had moved out several years ago when the victim’s father retired. Although the family had moved, she heard about the incident through her neighbours.
"Yes, I heard about the incident. The family had moved out of here a few years back when the father retired," she said.
Commenting on the road rage incident that took place in the country lately, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s road safety research centre head, Professor Dr Law Teik Hua said heavy punishment must be imposed on wrongdoers in such incidents that had claimed lives.
He said all road users must understand and comply with road traffic regulations and the right of way in different driving situations.
“Nevertheless, their own safety is always the highest priority, especially when they encounter road rage. This is particularly true for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrian, motorcyclist and bicyclist.
“Heavy punishment must be imposed, including jail and manslaughter sentences. Our society always forgives perpetrators of road rage incidents,” he added.
Law said that building more motorcycle lanes would be one of the solutions to avoid these incidents.
“Motorcyclists should be aware that they are physically more fragile than drivers of four-wheeled vehicles. Therefore, they should know and learn to protect themselves.
“They are encouraged to use driving camera for motorcycle so that they could have evidence when they report to the nearby police station,” he said adding that road safety education in schools also played an important role in solving this problem.