IPOH: Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming is prepared to cooperate in the investigation over his official vehicle, which allegedly tailgated an ambulance on the North-South Expressway (NSE) on Feb 3.
Through a Facebook post, Nga said he is aware about the issue going viral and how it happened about the same time of a fatal accident involving seven vehicles, which caused a massive congestion.
The minister said at the time of the incident, he was on his way to attend an official programme in Ipoh.
"I have already instructed my officer to give full cooperation to authorities and I am prepared to pay the compound for my driver, if he is found to be guilty and in the wrong.
"Any inconvenience is not intentional and is deeply regretted," he said.
Speaking further about the incident, Nga said because the expressway was very congested, his driver had no choice but to tailgate the private ambulance while trying to find space to continue their journey to Ipoh.
However, he said his driver gave way to the ambulance.
"This happened while I was on the way to attend an official programme in Ipoh. The driver for my official vehicle realised that there was a private ambulance that was following my vehicle and it was heading to the scene of the accident.
"My driver gave way to the ambulance so as to give priority to the emergency vehicle and lifesaving efforts."
Nga said the severe congestion along the route led to his driver trailing the ambulance.
"Seeing that traffic was congested, my driver had no choice but to follow the ambulance while looking for space to continue with the journey to Ipoh, after the ambulance went ahead.
"I would like to stress it was never my intention to break the law or flout traffic rules and regulations, and priority has always been on rescue efforts as prescribed by the law," he said.
Last night (Feb 8), Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri confirmed that it had recorded statements from the driver of the minister's official vehicle involved in the incident that went viral.
Police had also confirmed that the minister was also in the vehicle. His driver had been summoned to give a statement because of a police report that was lodged regarding the 10.27am incident at Km305 of the NSE.
Yusri had also said that police called up a few witnesses among the public to facilitate investigations.
Police also obtained closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage from PLUS Malaysia Bhd and from the ambulance's dashcam.
The case is investigated under the Regulation 9 (2) Road Traffic Rules 1959.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke had previously said an official statement will be issued regarding the incident.
On Feb 3, two lorry drivers were killed in a crash involving seven vehicles on the North-South Expressway near Gopeng.
The accident caused a traffic jam of several kilometres on both directions of the highway.