QuickCheck: Did traffic police stop an ambulance to make way for a VVIP's convoy?

A VIDEO on TikTok showing traffic police obstructing an ambulance to make way for a VVIP's convoy has sent the social media world in Malaysia abuzz with comments that the police were prioritising the VVIP over the patient in the ambulance.

Is this true?

PARTIALLY TRUE

According to a video recording shared by Malay newsportal mStar of the ambulance's dashcam, the incident happened at a flyover merging with Jalan Danga Bay heading towards Skudai in Johor Baru at about 2.15pm on Saturday (March 5).

At the time, the ambulance was approaching the point where the flyover merged with Jalan Danga Bay while the VVIP's convoy was approaching from the flyover's offramp.

Even though the ambulance had both its sirens and lights on, traffic police waved it down to stop it, to make way for the convoy.

The event has been slammed online and described as inappropriate as the ambulance was carrying patients at the time and it was an emergency.

Traffic police, however, have defended the decision of the two policemen at the scene, saying it was done to avoid a collision.

Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Rupiah Abdul Wahid said the two traffic policemen from the Johor Baru North police district headquarters were on duty to control traffic in conjunction with Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia at Angsana Mall Johor Baru.

She said that if the policemen had allowed the ambulance to pass, it would have caused a collision as the convoy was already passing the junction.

“The two policemen allowed the ambulance to depart after the convoy had left the area," she said.

ACP Rupiah added that a police report had been lodged and the case was being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code.

She further advised social media users to refrain from posting comments and misleading information to prevent public disorder.