Govt to probe high number of accidents Liow: Many deaths during Raya period

BENTONG: The Government will investigate the causes behind the high number of accidents during the Hari Raya period.

“Though 80% of accidents are caused by carelessness, I have ordered the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research and the Road Safety Department to analyse the other causes,” Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

Speaking to reporters after attending a Hari Raya do at Kg RTP Lebu here yesterday, he said the ministry was looking at making danger stretches safer.

He said the number of accidents reduced in the first week of Ops Selamat and Ops Bersepadu between June 18 and 24, but shot up the following week.

“I am saddened that accidents continue to rise despite our many safety campaigns which began before the Raya holidays.

“Over the past three days, the number of fatal accidents rose significantly,” he said.

According to statistics released by Bukit Aman, the accident rate increased by 10% to 17,147 over the first 11 days of Ops Selamat, compared with the same period last year.

The number of fatalities dropped by 17% to 172. Ops Selamat, launched on June 18, ends tomorrow.

The minister, who attended several Hari Raya events here yesterday, said roads were expected to be congested again with the balik bandar rush to Kuala Lumpur.

“We expect heavy traffic over the next three days. I appeal to motorists to be careful and get home safely,” he said.

At a ground-breaking ceremony at SK Lebu later, Liow, who is the Bentong MP, announced a RM250,000 allocation for a new building there.

He also pledged to get the Public Works Department to upgrade the stretch of road between Cinta Manis and Lebu, expected to cost RM68mil.

“This will be an important stretch serving as an alternative route to Raub, channelling traffic away from the already congested Bentong town,” he added.

Liow also shared his vision for Bentong, which he planned to turn it into Greater Kuala Lumpur’s “backyard”.

With Bentong being planned as one of the stops on the East Coast Railway Line, Liow said this would bring unprecedented development to the area.

“However, we don’t want a concrete jungle. We want to promote Bentong as a spot for eco-tourism,” said Liow.