QuickCheck: Did the PM's motorcade block an ambulance recently?

A VIDEO surfaced on social media on Sunday (Dec 26) of an ambulance being stopped by a motorcade; in the video, policemen could be seen stopping traffic at the intersection to give way to several other vehicles.

These vehicles included a Proton Perdana and several Toyota Vellfires carrying VIPs, and it is alleged that one of the VIPs in the motorcade was the Prime Minister. Is the allegation true?

VERDICT:

TRUE

In a statement issued on Sunday, Selangor police said that a four-wheel drive (4WD) and an ambulance were forced to stop at a junction to give way to the Prime Minister’s convoy.

Selangor Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief Supt Azman Shari’at said the policemen on duty made the decision after determining that there was a collision risk.

The incident took place at around 11.30am on Sunday when the Prime Minister’s convoy was heading towards Masjid Al-Mustaqqim, Batu 16 in Hulu Langat.

"During the situation shown in the video, traffic police decided to stop the other vehicles, including a Malaysian Red Crescent Society four-wheel drive and an ambulance from exiting the intersection in order to prevent the lead vehicle of the convoy from colliding with oncoming traffic," he added.

Supt Azman also said that the decision was made after assessing that the distance of the lead vehicle was close to the intersection.

"The action was in accordance with the provisions under Traffic Rule No. 9 LN 166/1959 of the Road Transport Act 1987," Supt Azman said in a statement on Monday (Dec 27).

"As soon as the convoy passed, traffic police immediately gave way to the ambulance and 4WD to pass through. This was done after ensuring that it was safe for them (to proceed)," he added.