Reckless driving, accidents rampant in Cyberjaya, residents claim after fatal hit-and-run

PETALING JAYA: The viral video of a car ploughing into a woman, ultimately resulting in her death, in a hit-and-run accident on Wednesday (Oct 17) in Cyberjaya was shocking but not surprising to residents.

Residents told The Star that reckless driving and road accidents are rampant in Cyberjaya, claiming that the irresponsible drivers are often foreigners.

Irianie Wahab said every month they will see one traffic light knocked down by vehicles.

"One simply has to ask any Cyberjaya resident and they will tell you that the disproportionate number of foreign drivers and the lack of regulation and enforcement, are the main causes of the situation," Irianie said.

"From speeding to running red lights, to not slowing down at corners, and even driving on the wrong side of the road – these foreign drivers are a hazard to other drivers and pedestrians, especially young children," the mother of three added.

Irianie noted that there is a large population of foreign students and workers in Cyberjaya.

Frustrated by the dangerous driving attitude, community leader Richard Ker said they took matters into their own hands by setting up a "dashcam community".

"When we drive around Cyberjaya, we record reckless drivers breaking traffic laws through our dashboard cameras and share it in our community WhatsApp and Facebook groups," the Cyberjaya resident of four years said.

Ker said despite prominent police presence in the area, reckless driving persists.

He claims that many foreign drivers use rental cars and there may be illegal car rental companies operating in Cyberjaya.

Ebi Azly Abdullah who has been working in Cyberjaya since 1997 said the incidents of reckless driving started increasing in the last five to six years.

"It is frustrating. My daughter has started to drive and I worry for her, I keep telling her to be careful of other drivers," he said.

He adds that foreign drivers are not the only ones to blame as locals have also followed these dangerous driving habits.

"I hope the authorities will look into this seriously as Cyberjaya is supposed to be a model city for the rest of the country," Ebi said.

Residents urge the authorities, including Transport Minister Anthony Loke, to integrate technology in the monitoring and enforcement of traffic rules and use Cyberjaya as a pilot project for safe cities nationwide.

On Wednesday (Oct 17), CCTV footage captured a car hitting victim Wan Amirah Wan Alias as she was crossing the road and dragging her along the street at Shaftsbury Square.

She passed away at 5am on Thursday (Oct 18) at Hospital Putrajaya.