VIDEOS and photographs of enforcement operations often go viral on social media.
One such video making the rounds shows a group of individuals pelting a Road Transport Department (JPJ) officer with firecrackers during an operation.
Comments on the video claim that the incident happened in Rawang.
Is it true that a JPJ officer was pelted with fireworks during a traffic operation?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Police have confirmed that a report has been lodged by the JPJ after one of its officers was pelted with firecrackers by a group of motorcyclists while carrying out an operation in Rawang recently, Sinar Harian reported.
The Malay language daily also reported that the police report was made at the Kundang police station in Gombak on Sunday (Feb 22).
Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Shazeli Kahar told Sinar Harian that investigations are under way.
“Police are tracking down the individuals involved, and the case has been classified under Section 6 of the Explosives Act 1957, relating to the offence of causing an explosion that could endanger life or property.
“Members of the public who have information about the incident can pass it to the police to assist in the investigation,” he told Sinar Harian on Monday (Feb 23).
It is understood that the incident, at about 10pm last Saturday, occurred when a team of JPJ enforcement officers were conducting patrols for Ops Chinese New Year around the Kuala Lumpur–Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR) and the Tasik Puteri area before stopping a motorcycle on Jalan Tasik Puteri, Rawang.
The motorcycle was stopped after the rider and pillion passenger were found not wearing helmets.
Further checks found several offences, including riding without a valid driving licence, an expired road tax, and no insurance coverage.
Summonses were issued to both individuals.
However, as officers were issuing the notices, a group of motorcyclists — estimated at between 20 and 30 people — allegedly began throwing firecrackers several times from a hill.
Following the incident, Selangor JPJ director Azrin Borhan was reported as saying that the department viewed the act seriously because it endangered enforcement officers as well as other road users.
Azrin said JPJ would continue to carry out targeted operations to ensure compliance with road laws, particularly offences involving riding without a licence, having no insurance, and failing to wear a helmet.
